THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


The 
Celebrated  Sporting  Work* 

OF 

ROBERT    B.    ROOSEVELT. 


I. 

The  Game  Fish  of  the  North 

ii. 
Superior  Fishing, 

in. 
The  Game  Birds  of  the  North. 


fc*  AU  published  uniform  with  this  volume, 
handsomely  bound  in  cloth,  price  $2.00. 
Sent  free  by  mail  on  receipt 
of  price, 

BY 
Carleton, 

New  York. 


THE 


GAME-BIRDS 


COASTS  AND  LAKES  OF  THE  NORTHERN  STATES 
OF   AMERICA. 


A  FULL  ACCOUNT    OP    THE    SPORTING  ALONG    OUR    SEA- 
SHORES   AND    INLAND   WATERS,    WITH    A    COM- 
PARISON OP  THE   MERITS  OP   BREECH- 
LOADERS    AND     MUZZLE- 
LOADERS. 


BY  ROBERT   B.   ROOSEVELT, 

AUTHOB  OF  "  THE  GAMK-FISH  OF  NORTH  AMERICA,"  "  SUPERIOR  FISHING," 
"COUNTRY  LIFE,"  ETC.,  KTO. 


NEW    YORK  I 


Carle ton.   Publisher,   413    Broadway. 


JI  DCCO  LXTI. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  In  the  year  1866,  by 
GEO.  W.  CARLETON, 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States  for  the 
Southern  District  of  New  York. 


THE  NKW  YORK  PRINTING  COMPANY, 

81, 88,  and  85  Centre  Street, 

N«w  YOEK. 


3/3 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

Game  of  Ancient  and  Modern  Days. — Its  Protection  and 
Importance. — The  proper  Shooting  Seasons. — The  Im- 
policy of  using  Batteries  and  Pivot-Guns *  \ 

CHAPTER  II. 

Guns  and  Gunnery. — Breech-loaders  compared  with  Muz- 
zle-loaders.— A  Sharp  Review  of  the  "  Dead  Shot." — 
The  Field  Trial 27 

CHAPTER  III. 

Bay-snipe  Shooting. — The  Birds,  their  Habits,  Peculiarities, 
and  places  of  Resort. — Stools  and  Whistles. — Dress  and 
Implements  appropriate  to  their  pursuit. — Their  Names 
and  Mode  of  Capture 66 

CHAPTER   IV. 

The  New  Jersey  Coast. — Jersey  Girls  and  their  pleasant 
ways. — The  peculiarities  of  Bay-snipe  further  elucidated. 
— Mosquitoes  rampant. — Good  Shooting  and  "Fancy" 
Sport. — Shipwrecks  and  Ghosts 98 

CHAPTER  V. 

Bay-Birds. — Particular  Descriptions  and  Scientific  Charac- 
teristics.— A  Complete  Account  of  each  Variety 140 


B      4961 
365121 


VI  .;  CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

CHAPTER  VL 

Montauk  Point. — American  Golden  Plover  or  Frost-Bird. 
— A  True  Story  of  Three  Thousand  in  a  Flock. — Lester's 
Tavern. — Good  Eating,  Fine  Fishing,  and  Splendid 
Shooting. — The  Nepeague  Beach 178 

CHAPTER  VII. 

Rail  and  Rail-Shooting. — Seasons,  Localities,  and  Incidents 
of  Sport. — Use  of  Breech-loader  or  Muzzle-loader. — 
Equipment 190 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

Wild-Fowl  Shooting. — General  Directions,  from  Boats, 
Blinds,  or  Batteries. — Retrievers  from  Baltimore  and 
Newfoundland. — "Western  Sport. — Equipment 205 

CHAPTER  IX. 

Duck-Shooiing  on  tlie  Inland  Lakes. — The  Club  House. — 
Practical  Views  of  Practical  Men. — Moral  Tales. — A 
Day's  Fishing. — The  Closing  Scenes 219 

CHAPTER  X. 

Suggestions  to  Sportsmen. — A  Definition  of  the  Term. — 
Crack  Shots.— The  Art  of  Shooting.— The  Art  of  not 
Shooting. 2*71 

CHAPTER  XI. 

Trap-Shooting.  —  Its  Justification.  —  The  Assistants.  — 
Rules  and  Regulations. — Care  of  Birds. — Tricks  of  the 
Trade . .  288 


APPENDIX. 

Ornithological  Descriptions  of  the  Geese  and  Ducks,  with 
Remarks  and  Suggestions  on  their  Habits. — Rules  of 
Trap-shooting 303 


THE  GAME  BIRDS  OF  THE  NORTH. 


CHAPTER  I. 

GAME   AND   ITS   PROTECTION. 

BY  the  ancient  law  of  1  and  2  William  IV.,  chap. 
32,  under  the  designation  of  game,  were  included 
"  hares,  pheasants,  partridges,  grouse,  heath  or 
moor  game,  black  game,  and  bustards." 

Hunting  and  hawking  date  back  to  the  earliest 
days  of  knight-errantry,  when  parties  of  cavaliers 
and  ladies  fair,  mounted  on  their  mettlesome  steeds 
caparisoned  with  all  the  skill  of  the  cunning  arti- 
ficers of  those  days,  pursued  certain  birds  of  the  air 
with  the  falcon,  and  followed  the  royal  stag  through 
the  well  preserved  and  extensive  forests  with  packs 
of  hounds.  The  term  game,  therefore,  had  an  early 
significance  and  positive  application,  but  was  con- 
fined to  the  creatures  pursued  in  one  or  the  other 
of  these  two  modes. 

The  gun  was  first  used  for  the  shooting  of  feather- 
ed game  in  the  early  part  of  the  eighteenth  century ; 
it  soon  became  the  favorite  implement  of  the  sports- 
man, and  was  brought  into  use,  not  only  against  the 


8  GAME  AND  ITS  PROTECTION. 

birds,  but  the  beasts,  of  game.  The  huntsman  no 
longer  depends  upon  his  brave  dog  and  cloth-yard 
shaft,  but  upon  his  own  powers  of  endurance  and  of 
marksmanship.  Instead  of  watching  the  savage  fal- 
con strike  his  prey  far  up  in  the  heavens,  he  follows 
his  high-bred  setters,  till  their  wonderful  natural  in- 
stinct betrays  to  him  the  presence  of  the  game. 

Where  he  once  rode  after  the  yelping  pack,  sound- 
ing the  merry  notes  of  his  bugle  horn,  he  now  climbs 
and  crawls  laboriously,  until  he  brings  the  wary  stag 
within  range  of  the  deadly  rifle.  No  more  brilliant 
parties  of  lovely  dames  and  gallant  men,  chatting 
merrily  on  the  incidents  of  the  day,  ride  gaily 
decked  steeds ;  no  more  the  luxury  of  the  beautiful 
faces  and  pleasant  companionship  of  the  gentler 
sex  is  to  be  enjoyed ;  the  ladies  of  modern  times — 
except  in  England,  where  they  occasionally  follow 
foxes,  which  are  rather  vermin  than  game — prefer- 
ring the  excitement  of  ball-room  flirtations  to  out- 
door sports  and  pleasures,  take  no  part  in  the  pur- 
suits of  the  chase. 

Together  with  the  change  in  the  mode  of  captur- 
ing game,  comes  a  necessity  for  a  change  in  its 
former  restricted  meaning.  Who  would  think  of 
not  including  among  game  birds,  the  gamest  of 
them  all — the  magnificent  woodcock ;  nor  the  stylish 
English  snipe,  nor  even  possibly  the  brave  little  quail 
— unless  he  can  be  scientifically  proved  to  be  a  par- 
tridge —which  is  at  least  doubtful!  Migratory  birds 
were  not  included  in  the  sacred  list,  and  the  quail 
in  England,  as  the  woodcock  and  snipe  of  both 


GAME   AND  ITS  PROTECTION.  9 

England  and  America,  are  migratory,  although  the 
mere  temporary  character  of  their  residence  does 
not,  in  our  view,  at  all  alter  the  nature  of  their 
claims.  The  larger  European  woodcock  is  by  no 
means  so  delicious  or  highly  flavored  a  bird  as  our 
yellow-breasted,  round-eyed  beauty,  and  is  much 
scarcer ;  while  the  foreign  quail,  on  the  other  hand, 
is  smaller  than  ours,  and  in  southern  Europe  is 
found  in  vast  flocks ;  but  both  are  entitled  to  high 
rank  among  modern  sportsmen. 

The  term  Game  Birds,  therefore,  should  be,  and 
has  been  by  general  consent,  greatly  extended  in  its 
application,  and  applied  to  all  the  numerous  species 
which,  whether  migratory  or  not,  are  killed  not 
alone  for  the  market,  but  for  sport ;  and  which  are 
followed  on  the  stubble  fields,  in  brown  November, 
with  the  strong-limbed  and  keen-nosed  setter,  or 
shot  from  blind  in  scorching  August ;  slain  from 
battery  in  freezing  December,  or  chased  in  a  boat, 
or  misled  by  decoys.  All  wild  birds  that  furnish 
sport  as  well  as  profit  are  therefore  game  ;  and  the 
gentle  dowitchers  along  our  sea-coast,  lured  to  the 
deceitful  stools,  are  as  much  entitled  to  the  name  as 
the  stately  ruffed  grouse  of  our  wild  woods,  or  the 
royal  turkey  of  the  far  west. 

To  constitute  a  legitimate  object  of  true  sport,  the 
bird  must  be  habitually  shot  on  the  wing,  and  the 
greater  the  skill  required  in  its  capture,  the  higher 
its  rank.  The  turkey,  therefore,  although  frequently 
killed  on  the  wing,  is  more  a  game  bird  by  suffer- 
ance than  by  right,  and  pai'tly  from  his  gastronomic 
1* 


10  GAME  AND   ITS   PROTECTION. 

as  well  as  from  his  other  qualities.  Under  this 
classification,  then,  we  must  include,  not  merely  the 
ruffed  and  pinnated  grouse,  which,  although  the 
only  species  in  our  country  coming  within  the 
ancient  definition,  furnish  far  less  sport  than  many 
other  varieties,  but  woodcock,  snipe,  quail,  geese, 
ducks,  bay  birds,  plover,  and  rail ;  without  regard  to 
the  fact  that  all,  except  the  quail,  are  migratory, 
and  most  were  unknown  to  our  British  ancestry. 
It  has  been  even  supposed  that  the  quail,  in  parts 
of  our  country  free  from  deep  rivers  and  impassable 
barriers,  are  also  in  a  measure  migratory ;  but  this 
has  no  other  foundation  than  their  habit  of  wander- 
ing from  place  to  place  in  search  of  food,  and  col- 
lecting late  in  the  season,  as  they  will  do  where  they 
are  numerous  and  undisturbed  in  large  packs. 

To  the  protection  of  this  vast  variety  of  game  it 
is  the  sportsman's  duty  to  address  himself,  in  spite 
of  the  opposition  of  the  market-man  and  restaurateur, 
the  mean-spirited  poaching  of  the  pot-hunter,  and 
the  lukewarmness  of  the  farmer.  The  latter  can  be 
enlisted  in  the  cause;  he  has  indirectly  the  objects 
of  the  sportsman  at  heart;  and  with  proper  enlight- 
enment will  assist,  not  merely  to  preserve  his  fields 
from  ruthless  injury,  but  to  save  from  destruction 
his  friends  the  song-birds. 

As  the  true  sportsman  turns  his  attention  only  to 
legitimate  sport,  destroying  those  birds  that  are  but 
little  if  at  all  useful  to  the  fanner ;  and  as  at  the 
same  time,  out  of  gratitude  for  the  kindness  with 
which  the  latter  generally  receives  him,  he  is  care- 


GAME  AND  ITS  PROTECTION.  11 

ful  never  to  invade  the  high  grass  or  the  ripening 
grain — so  also,  from  his  innate  love  of  nature,  and  of 
everything  that  makes  nature  more  beautiful,  he 
spares  and  defends  the  warblers  of  the  woods  and  the 
innocent  worm-devourersthat  stand  guardian  over  the 
trees  and  crops.  The  smaller  birds  destroy  immense 
numbers  of  worms ;  cedar-birds  have  been  known 
to  eat  hundreds  of  caterpillars,  and  in  this  city 
have  cleared  the  public  squares  in  a  morning's  visit 
of  the  disgusting  measuring-worms,  that  were  hang- 
ing by  thousands  pendent  from  the  branches.  And 
who  has  not  heard  the  "  woodpecker  tapping  "  all 
day  long  in  pursuit  of  his  prey  ? 

With  the  barbarous  and  senseless  destruction  of 
our  small  birds,  the  ravages  of  the  worms  have 
augmented,  until  we  hear  from  all  the  densely-set- 
tled portions  of  the  country  loud  complaints  of  their 
attacks.  Peach-trees  perish ;  cherries  are  no  longer 
the  beautiful  fruit  they  once  were ;  apples  are  dis- 
figured, and  plums  have  almost  ceased  to  exist. 
Worms  appear  upon  every  vegetable  thing;  the 
borers  dig  their  way  beneath  the  bark  of  the  trunk 
and  cut  long  alleys  through  the  wood ;  weevils 
pierce  the  grain  and  eat  out  its  pith ;  the  leaf-eaters 
of  various  sorts  punch  out  the  delicate  membrane  by 
individual  effort;  or  collecting  in  bodies,  throw 
their  nets,  like  a  spider-web,  over  the  branches,  and 
by  combined  attacks  deliberately  devour  every  leaf. 
While  these  species  are  at  work  openly  and  in  full 
sight,  others  are  at  the  roots  digging  and  destroy- 
ing and  multiplying;  until  the  tree  that  at  first 


12  GAME  AND  ITS  PROTECTION. 

gave  evidence  of  hardiness  and  promise  of  long 
utility  to  man,  pauses  in  its  growth,  becomes  deli- 
cate, fades,  and  finally  dies. 

The  destruction  of  these  vermicular  pests  is  a 
question  of  life  or  death  to  the  farmer.  He  may 
attempt  it  either  with  his  own  labor,  by  tarring  his 
trees,  fastening  obstructions  on  the  trunks,  or  by 
killing  individuals ;  or  he  may  have  it  done  for  him, 
free  of  expense,  by  innumerable  flocks  of  the  deni- 
zens of  the  air.  The  increase  of  worms  must  be 
stopped ;  the  means  of  doing  so  is  a  question  of 
serious  public  concern,  and  none  have  yet  been  in- 
vented so  effectual  as  the  natural  course — the  res- 
toration of  the  equipoise  of  nature.  It  is  true  that 
the  robin,  as  we  call  him,  now  and  then  steals  a 
cherry,  and  has  been  blamed  as  though  he  were 
nothing  more  than  a  cherry-thief;  but  surely  we 
can  spare  him  a  little  fruit  for  his  dessert,  when  we 
remember  that  his  meal  has  been  composed  mainly 
of  the  deadly  enemies  of  that  very  fruit  1  Swallows 
are  accused  of  breeding  lice,  which,  if  true,  would 
not  be  a  serious  charge,  considering  that  their  nests 
are  generally  in  the  loftiest  and  least  accessible  cor- 
ner they  can  find ;  but  when  we  consider  how  many 
millions  of  noxious  flies  and  poisonous  mosquitoes 
they  destroy,  how  they  hover  over  the  swamps  and 
meadows  for  this  especial  purpose,  and  how  much 
annoyance  their  labors  save  to  human  kind,  we  owe 
them  gratitude  instead  of  abuse. 

Every  tribe  of  birds  has  its  allotted  part  to  play  ; 
and  if  destroyed,  not  only  will  its  pleasant  songs  and 


GAME  AND  ITS  PROTECTION.  13 

bright  feathers,  gleaming  amid  the  green  leaves,  be 
missed,  but  some  species  of  bug  or  insect,  some 
disgusting  caterpillar  or  injurious  fly,  will  escape 
well  merited  destruction,  and  increasingly  visit  upon 
man  the  punishment  of  his  cruelty  and  folly. 

The  beautiful  blue-birds,  the  numerous  wood- 
peckers, the  tiny  wrens,  the  graceful  swallows  and 
noisy  martins,  are  sac-red  to  the  sportsman,  and  con- 
stitute one  great  division  of  the  creatures  that  he 
desires  to  protect.  It  is  true  that  enthusiastic  for- 
eigners, with  cast-iron  guns,  are  seen  peering  into 
trees  and  lurking  through  the  woods,  proud  of  a 
dirty  bag  half  filled  with  robins,  thrushes,  and  wood- 
peckers ;  but  let  no  ignorant  reader  confound  such 
persons  with  sportsmen.  Their  satisfaction  in  slay- 
ing one  beautiful  little  warbler,  as  full  of  melody  as 
it  is  bare  of  meat,  with  a  deadly  charge  of  No.  4 
shot;  or  in  chasing  from  tree  to  tree  the  agile  red 
squirrel,  who,  with  bushy  tail  erect,  leaps  from  one 
limb  to  another,  emulating  the  very  birds  them- 
selves with  his  agility,  is  as  unsportsmanlike  as  to 
kill  a  cheeping  quail,  that,  struggling  from  the  thick 
weeds  in  September  before  the  pointer's  nose,  with 
feeble  wings,  skirts  the  low  brush;  or  to  murder 
the  brooding  woodcock,  that  flutters  up  before  the 
dog  in  June,  and,  with  holy  maternal  instinct,  en- 
deavours to  lead  the  pursuer  from  her  infant  brood. 

From  such  acts  the  veritable  sportsman  turns 
with  horror ;  they  are  cruelty — the  slaughter  of 
what  is  useless  for  food,  or  what,  by  its  death,  will 
produce  misery  to  others;  and  no  persons  in  the 


14:  GAME  AND  ITS  PROTECTION. 

community  have  done  more  to  repress  tins  wanton- 
ness of  destruction  than  the  Sportsmen's  Clubs.  It 
was  at  their  request  that  the  killing  of  song-birds 
was  prohibited  altogether;  and  they  are  the  most 
earnest  to  restrict  the  times  of  lawful  sport  to  such 
periods  as  will  not,  by  any  possibility,  permit  its 
being  followed  during  the  season  of  incubation. 

Not  alone  by  obtaining  the  passage  of  appropriate 
laws  and  their  vigorous  enforcement,  have  these 
clubs  effected  a  great  reform ;  but  by  their  personal 
example  and  social  influence,  often,  too,  at  consider- 
able loss  to  themselves.  For  while  the  poacher, 
taking  the  chance  of  a  legal  conviction  as  an  acci- 
dent of  business,  and  but  a  slight  reduction  of  his 
unlawful  profits,  anticipates  the  appointed  time,  true 
sportsmen,  restrained  by  a  feeling  of  honor  and  self- 
respect,  although  they  know  that  the  birds  are  being 
killed  daily  in  defiance  of  the  statute,  wait  till  the 
lawful  day  arrives,  and  thus  often,  especially  in 
woodcock  shooting,  sacrifice  their  entire  season's 
sport  for  a  principle. 

This  honorable  spirit,  if  encouraged  and  extended, 
is  the  best  protection  for  song-birds  and  game  that 
can  be  had.  The  laws  are  only  necessary  to  deter 
those  who  are  dead  to  honor  and  decency,  and  to 
fix  the  proper  times — which  ought  to  be  uniform 
throughout  our  entire  country.  But  to  enforce  them 
requires  the  assistance  of  public  opinion.  Every 
encouragement  should  be  given  to  sportsmen's  asso- 
ciations. The  absurd  prejudice  that  has  originated 
from  confounding  them  with  a  very  different  class 


GAME  AND  ITS  PROTECTION.  15 

of  the  community  should  be  overcome,  and  their 
efforts  to  have  good  laws  passed,  and  to  make  them 
effectual,  should  be  sustained.  The  vulgar  idea, 
that  confounds  laws  for  the  protection  of  the  wild 
creatures  of  wood,  meadow,  lake,  and  stream,  with 
the  monstrous  game-laws  of  olden  time — that  made 
killing  a  hare  more  criminal  than  killing  a  man — 
should  be  corrected. 

In  this  country,  where  every  man  is  expected  to 
be  a  sort  of  volunteer-policeman,  all  should  unite  in 
enforcing  the  laws;  and  then,  in  spite  of  the  irre- 
pressible obstinacy  of  the  German  enthusiast,  and 
the  mean  cunning  of  the  sneaking  poacher,  our 
cities  would  soon  be  rid  of  the  disgusting  worms 
that  make  their  trees  hideous,  our  farms  protected 
from  the  devastations  of  the  curculio,  the  weevil, 
the  borer,  and  the  army-worm ;  the  country  would 
once  more  be  populated  with  its  native  feathered 
game,  and  our  fields  would  resound  with  the  glad 
songs  of  the  little  birds  that  there  build  their 
homes. 

So  long  as  the  ignorant  of  cnir  nouveaux  riches, 
imagining  themselves  to  be  epicures,  will  pay  for 
unseasonable  game  an  extravagant  price,  so  long 
will  unscrupulous  market-men  purchase,  and  loafing, 
disreputable,  tavern-haunting  poachers  shoot  or  other- 
wise kill  their  prey.  It  must  be  made  a  disgrace, 
and  if  necessary  punished  as  a  crime,  for  any  modern 
Lucullus  to  insult  his  guests  by  presenting  to  them 
game  out  of  season ;  and  eating-house  keepers  should 
not  only  be  taught — by  persistent  espionage,  if  ne- 


16  GAME  AND  ITS  PROTECTION. 

cessary — that  illegal  profits  will  not  equal  legal 
punishments ;  but  their  customers  should  also  dis- 
courage, by  withdrawing  their  patronage,  conduct 
that  is  so  injurious  to  the  public  interests.  Wood- 
cock would  not  be  shot  in  spring,  nor  quail  in  sum- 
mer, unless  the  demand  for  them  were  sufficiently 
great  to  pay  both  the  expense  of  capture  and  the 
danger  of  exposure;  and,  with  a  diminution  of  pur- 
chasers, will  be  an  increased  diminution  of  the  num- 
ber of  birds  improperly  killed. 

Birds  and  fish,  except  in  their  proper  seasons,  are 
always  tasteless,  and  often  unhealthy  food.  A  set- 
ting quail  or  a  spawning  trout  is  absolutely  unfit  to 
eat,  and  to  do  without  them  is  no  sacrifice ;  but  for 
the  sportsman  to  restrain  his  ardor  as  the  close-time 
draws  towards  an  end,  and  when  others  less  scrupu- 
lous are  filling  their  bags  daily,  or  when  in  the 
wilder  sections  of  country  there  is  no  one  to  com- 
plain or  object,  requires  the  heroism  of  self-denial. 
Nevertheless,  the  effect  of  example  should  not  be 
forgotten,  and  the  duty  of  the  true  sportsman  is 
clear  and  unmistakable :  he  must  abide  by  the  law  ; 
or,  where  there  is  no  law,  must  govern  himself  by 
analogous  rules. 

In  the  wilderness,  it  is  true,  where  birds  are  abun- 
dant to  excess,  he  may  without  blame  supply  his 
pot  with  cheeping  grouse  or  wood-duck  flappers,  if 
he  can  offer  hunger  as  an  excuse;  but  not  even 
there,  unless  driven  by  extremity,  can  he  slay  the 
parent  of  a  brood  that  will  starve  without  parental 
care.  In  the  settled  regions,  no  matter  how  great 


GAME  AND  ITS  PROTECTION.  17 

the  provocation,  the  true  sportsman  will  never  for- 
get the  chivalric  motto,  noblesse  oblige. 

The  close-times  of  the  present  statutes  are  not 
altogether  correct ;  and  in  so  extensive  a  locality  as 
the  United  States,  where  diverse  interests  are  to  be 
considered,  it  is  nearly  impracticable  to  make  the 
laws  perfect.  For  instance,  where  quail  are  abun- 
dant, as  in  the  South,  there  is  no  objection  to  killing 
them  during  the  entire  month  of  January ;  but,  as 
at  that  period  they  are  often  lean  and  tough,  and 
have  to  contend,  in  the  Northern  States,  against 
dangers  of  the  elements  and  rapacious  vermin,  with 
not  too  favorable  a  chance  for  life — it  is  undesirable, 
where  they  are  in  the  least  scarce,  to  continue  the 
pursuit  after  December. 

If  it  were  possible  to  make  a  uniform  law  for  the 
entire  Union,  and  to  enforce  it  everywhere,  English 
snipe  and  ducks  should  not  be  killed  at  all  during 
the  spring.  The  latter  at  the  time  of  their  flight 
northward  are  poor  and  fishy ;  but  if  they  can  be 
slain  in  New  Jersey,  it  is  hardly  worth  while  to 
protect  them  in  New  York.  For  every  duck  or 
snipe  that  passes  towards  the  hatching-grounds  of 
British  America  in  the  early  part  of  the  year,  four 
or  five  return  in  the  fall  and  winter.  Could  proper 
protection,  therefore,  be  enforced,  the  sport  in  the 
latter  season  would  be  four  times  as  great  as  in  the 
former. 

As  matters  stand,  however,  the  seasons  for  killing 
game  birds  should  be:  For  woodcock,  from  July 
fourth  to  December  thirty-first  j  for  ruffed  and  pin 


18  GAME  AND  ITS  PROTECTION. 

nated  grouse,  from  September  first— and  quail  from 
November  first — to  the  same  period,  both  days  in- 
clusive ;  for  wood-duck  from  August  first  till  they 
migrate  southward.  It  is  desirable  to  fix  upon  an- 
niversaries or  days  that  are  easily  remembered. 
Woodcock  are  often  young  and  weak  in  early  sum- 
mer, and  the  three  days  gained  between  the  first 
and  the  fourth  of  July  are  quite  an  advantage. 
Although  the  first  brood  of  quail  may  be  fully 
grown  in  October,  a  vast  number  of  the  birds  are 
too  small,  and  the  brush  is  too  dense  and  thick 
before  the  first  of  the  ensuing  month ;  whereas  it 
is  simply  monstrous  to  slay  pinnated  grouse,  put 
up  by  the  panting,  overheated  pointer  from  the 
high  grass  of  the  western  prairie,  in  the  month  of 
August,  ere  they  can  half  fly.  But  the  migratory 
birds  of  the  coast — the  waterfowl  and  snipe,  the 
waders  and  plovers — may  continue  to  be  shot  when 
they  can  be  found,  till  their  rapidly  diminishing 
numbers  shall  compel  a  more  sensible  and  consider- 
ate treatment. 

The  bay-snipe  lead  the  advancing  army  of  the 
game  birds  that  have  sought  the  cool  and  secluded 
marshes  of  Hudson's  Bay  and  the  Northern  Ocean 
to  raise  their  young,  and  are  hastening  south  from 
approaching  cold  and  darkness  to  more  congenial 
climes.  Next  come  the  beautiful  wood-duck,  and, 
almost  simultaneously,  the  English  snipe  ;  then  the 
swift  but  diminutive  teal ;  after  him  the  broad-bill 
or  the  blue-bill  of  the  west ;  and  then  a  host  of 
other  ducks,  till  the  hardy  canvas-backs  and  geese 


GAME  AND  ITS  PliOTECTION.  19 

bring  up  the  rear.  From  July,  when  the  yellow- 
legs  and  dowitchers  abound ;  throughout  August,  in 
which  month  the  larger  bay-birds  are  continuously 
streaming  by ;  during  September,  when  the  English 
snipe  are  on  the  meadows  and  the  wood-ducks  in  the 
lily-pad  marshes  of  the  fresh- water  lakes ;  in  Octo- 
ber, when  the  teal  and  blue-bills  are  abundant  in  the 
great  west;  all  through  the  fall  and  into  winter, 
when  the  geese  and  canvas-backs  arrive,  the  bay- 
man  finds  his  sport  in  perfection. 

Many  of  the  upland  birds  are  disappearing ;  the 
quail  is  being  killed  with  merciless  energy,  and  his 
loved  haunts  of  dense  brush  are  cleared  away  from 
year  to  year  ;  the  woodcock  can  hardly  rest  in  peace 
long  enough  to  rear  her  young,  and  finds  many  of 
her  favorite  secluded  spots  drained  by  the  enterpris- 
ing farmer ;  the  ruffed  grouse  disappears  with  the 
receding  forest,  and  the  prairie  chicken  with  the 
cultivation  of  the  open  land.  But  although  innu- 
merable ducks,  snipe,  and  plovers  are  killed  every 
season,  and  by  unjustifiable  measures  are  driven 
from  certain  localities,  their  vast  flights  throughout 
the  whole  country — amounting  to  myriads  in  the 
west — are  apparently  as  innumerable  as  ever. 

From  the  first  of  August  to  the  last  of  December 
they  stretch  athwart  the  sky  from  the  Atlantic  to 
the  Pacific ;  and  although  in  localities  they  may 
appear  scarce,  still  constitute  countless  hosts.  Were 
it  possible  to  stand  on  some  peak  of  the  Rocky 
Mountains,  and  take  in  at  a  glance  the  vast  stretch 
of  heavens  from  ocean  to  ocean,  with  the  moving 


20  GAME  AND  ITS  PROTECTION. 

myriads  of  migratory  flocks,  the  mind  would  be 
astonished;  and  it  would  seem  impossible  ever  to 
reduce  their  numbers.  This  is  to  a  certain  degree 
true  ;  for  so  long  as  the  lagoons  of  the  South  shall 
remain  undisturbed,  and  the  shores  of  the  bays  and 
rivers  unoccupied  to  any  great  extent,  this  abun- 
dance of  the  migratory  birds  will  continue.  But 
when  the  Southern  shores  shall  be  frequented  with 
gunners  as  plenteously  as  those  of  Long  Island  and 
New  Jersey,  the  last  days  of  the  bay-fowl  will  have 
arrived.  i  .  * 

At  present  we  suffer  more  from  improper  modes 
of  pursuit  than  from  absolute  scarcity  of  game.  The 
habit  of  using  "  batteries"  in  the  South  Bay  of  Long 
Island,  and  locating  them  on  the  feeding  or  sanding- 
grounds,  has  resulted  in  frightening  away  the  birds. 
Where,  a  few  years  ago,  ten  ducks  stopped  in  the 
water  adjoining  that  famous  sand-pit,  there  can 
hardly  be  found  one  at  present.  After  being  dis- 
turbed on  their  feeding-grounds  by  murderous  dis- 
charges from  an  unseen  foe  in  their  midst,  they 
become  alarmed  and  leave  the  locality  altogether. 
To  be  sure,  for  a  year  or  so,  the  number  killed  from 
that  ingenious  mode  of  ambush  will  be  enormous ; 
but  it  is  at  a  terrible  sacrifice  of  the  supply,  and  will 
eventuate  in  ruin  to  those  engaged  in  it.  At  pre- 
sent on  Long  Island  it  is  hardly  possible  to  obtain  a 
decent  day's  sport  without  using  a  "  battery  ;"  but 
in  the  South,  along  the  Chesapeake  and  Potomac, 
where  the  use  of  these  inventions  has  never  been 
allowed,  the  ducks  are  as  abundant  as  ever. 


GAME   AND  ITS  PKOTECTION.  21 

There  is  no  meaner  mode  of  shooting  than  from  a 
battery.  In  attaining  destructiveness,  every  idea  of 
beauty,  comfort,  or  sportsmanship  is  sacrificed.  The 
shooter  lies  on  his  back  in  a  species  of  coffin  sunk  to 
the  level  of  the  water,  with  his  decoys  near  by ;  and 
whenever  a  flock  approaches,  he  rises  to  a  sitting 
posture  and  fires.  He  cannot  leave  his  battery  nor 
move  it,  nor  hardly  turn  round  in  it,  and  is  unable 
to  retrieve  his  ducks  without  the  aid  of  an  assistant. 
It  is  an  invention  suited  solely  to  the  market-gunner, 
and  utterly  unfitted  to  the  sportsman.  Bad  weather 
prevents  its  use  altogether ;  and  in  a  moderate  breeze 
the  water  is  apt  to  break  over  the  narrow  rim  and 
destroy  the  comfort,  if  not  absolutely  endanger  the 
safety,  of  the  sportsman. 

When  ducks  are  scarce  the  confinement  is  weari- 
some; and  when  they  are  abundant  the  excitement, 
united  to  the  awkwardness  of  position,  often  leads 
to  terrible  accidents.  "  Cribbed,  cabined,  and  con- 
fined," the  duck-shooter  lies  for  weary  hours  ex- 
posed to  the  cold  winds  of  winter,  unable  to  keep 
his  blood  in  circulation  by  exercise,  and  is  hardly 
remunerated  by  the  sport;  although,  if  money  be  his 
object,  he  may  be  paid  by  the  commercial  value  of 
his  game.  It  is  this  ignoble  mode  of  warfare  that, 
more  than  anything  else,  has  brought  discredit  upon 
wild-fowl  shooting;  for  the  upland  shooter,  accus- 
tomed to  the  free  motion  and  active  exertion  of  his 
favorite  pursuit,  naturally  feels  disgusted  at  being 
thrust  into  a  box  scarcely  large  enough  to  contain 
his  body,  and  which  cramps  his  every  motion. 


22  GAME  AND  ITS  PROTECTION. 

At  the  South,  where  the  sportsman  shoots  from 
behind  a  blind,  and  calls  to  his  aid  the  courage  and 
intelligence  of  his  faithful  "retriever"  to  recover  his 
game,  the  walk  to  and  from  the  stand  warms  his 
blood,  and  he  can  move  around  at  will.  In  the 
West,  where  duck-shooting  is  to  be  had  in  perfec- 
tion, the  sportsman  pushes  his  light  and  narrow 
boat  through  the  weeds  and  lilies  of  the  marshes, 
and  has  many  a  long  chase  after  wounded  birds 
that  will  bring  into  play  his  muscles,  and  send  the 
circulation  through  his  veins.  Even  in  shooting 
through  the  "sneak  boxes"  of  Barnegat  Bay,  there 
is  much  exercise  and  a  certain  amount  of  liberty  of 
motion ;  but  in  the  battery,  a  man  is  a  mere  death- 
dealing  machine,  expected  to  mind  neither  cold  nor 
cramp,  and  to  demand  neither  comfort  nor  pleasure. 

One  of  the  most  necessary  reforms  in  the  game- 
laws  would  be  the  absolute  prohibition  of  the  use 
of  a  battery.  At  the  South  this  was  done  by  the 
good  sense  of  the  people ;  and  many  a  stranger  from 
Long  Island,  who  was  unaware  of  the  customs  of 
the  country,  aud  had  brought  with  him  his  battery 
to  teach  the  natives  "  New  York  tricks,"  has  been 
warned  to  move  his  quarters  by  the  whistle  of  a 
rifle-ball  skipping  across  the  water.  It  is  surprising 
that  the  gunners  of  the  great  South  Bay  did  not 
long  ago  discover  that  their  interest  lay  in  dis- 
continuing the  use  of  this  machine.  For  the  first 
few  years,  perhaps,  after  its  prohibition,  they  might 
not  have  as  good  success;  but  in  time  the  birds 
would  resume  their  old  habits  and  renew  their 


GAME  AND  ITS  PROTECTION.  23 

visits  to  what  should  be  the  paradise  of  both  ducks 
and  sportsmen.  They  all  know  and  regret  the 
diminution  of  wild  fowl,  and  most  of  them  are  satis- 
fied from  what  cause  it  arises  ;  but  as  the  immediate 
losses  from  a  change  would  fall  upon  themselves 
heavily  at  first,  they  shrink  from  decided  action. 

If,  however,  the  birds  are  to  be  retained,  and  pre- 
vented from  gradually  withdrawing,  year  after  year, 
until  they  shall  desert  us  in  toto,  the  use  of  the  bat- 
tery must  be  prevented.  When  that  is  done,  we  shall 
soon  again  have  such  days  as  we  once  had  hi  and 
about  old  Raccoon  Beach,  when  sportsmen  innume- 
rable collected  to  welcome  the  advent  of  their  prey ; 
when  the  tale  and  song  filled  up  the  long  evenings, 
and  the  ducks  quacked  their  hosannas  at  early  dawn ; 
when  every  point  was  occupied  by  a  happy  sports- 
man, and  every  boat  came  home  loaded  with  game. 

The  use  of  pivot-guns  is  another  reprehensible 
practice  that  has  been  so  earnestly  condemned,  even 
among  market-gunners,  that  it  has  been  in  a  great 
measure  abandoned.  Still,  however,  in  some  quiet 
bay  of  one  of  the  great  lakes  of  the  West,  where 
there  is  no  one  to  observe  the  iniquity,  or  of  a  moon- 
light night  on  the  Chesapeake,  the  poaching  mur- 
derer, sculling  his  boat  down  upon  an  unsuspicious 
flock  crowded  together  and  feeding  or  asleep,  will 
discharge  a  pound  or  two  of  coarse  shot  from  his 
diminutive  cannon ;  and  wounding  hundreds,  will 
kill  scores  of  ducks  at  the  one  fatal  discharge.  The 
noise,  however,  reverberating  over  land  and  water, 
scatters  the  tidings  of  the  guilty  act  far  and  wide  : 


24  GAME  AND  ITS  PSOTECTION. 

and  often  brings  upon  the  criminal  detection  and 
punishment.  To  avoid  this  the  pivot-shooter  will 
sometimes,  as  soon  as  he  has  fired,  throw  his  gun 
overboard  with  a  buoy  attached  to  it,  and  if  pur- 
sued, pretend  he  has  used  nothing  but  his  small 
fowling-piece.  The  practice  of  pivot-shooting,  how- 
ever, has  almost  ceased,  never  having  been  exten- 
sively adopted ;  and  has  nothing  whatever  sports- 
manlike about  it,  being  a  mixture  of  cruelty  and 
theft. 

Another  mode  of  pursuing  ducks,  whvch  is  at  the 
same  time  attractive,  exciting,  and  injurious,  is  by 
the  use  of  a  sail-boat.  Not  only  is  there  the  ex- 
citement of  the  pursuit,  the  rushing  down  wind 
with  bellying  sail  and  hissing  water — the  crested 
waves  parting  at  the  prow  and  lengthening  out 
behind  in  two  long  lines  of  foam — but  there  is  the 
free  motion  and  the  pleasant  breeze  to  stimulate 
the  sportsman.  This  is  really  a  delightful  sport, 
combining  the  excitement  of  shooting  with  the  ex- 
hilaration of  sailing  ;  but  as  it  disturbs  the  flocks 
upon  their  feeding-grounds,  as  it  gives  them  no  rest 
during  the  noontide  hours,  when  it  appears  that 
ducks — like  all  other  sensible  people — love  to  in- 
dulge in  a  quiet  nap,  it  eventually  drives  them 
away  ;  and  not  only  makes  them  shy  of  the  locality, 
but  injures  the  sport  of  the  point-shooter,  who  de- 
pends upon  their  regular  flights  for  his  success.  It 
is  not  often  very  remunerative,  but  is  uncommonly 
attractive,  and  is  only  condemned  with  great  re- 
luctance on  proof  of  its  injurious  results. 


GAME  AND  ITS   PROTECTION.  25 

Every  one — whether  the  gentleman  who,  in  search 
of  health  or  pleasure,  visits  the  muddy.,bays  or  sand- 
spits  of  our  coast,  or  the  market-gunner  who  has 
learnt  naught  of  useful  labor  for  many  years  but  to 
handle  skilfully  his  heavy  double-barrel — every  one, 
we  say,  who  pursues  wild-fowl,  whether  for  sport  or 
business,  is  interested  in  enforcing  upon  his  friends 
and  neighbors  the  necessity  of  discontinuing  the  use 
of  the  battery  and  pivot-gun.  Although  the  results 
of  the  day's  shooting  may  be  diminished  for  a  time, 
they  will  both  gain  in  the  long  run  ;  and  we  shall 
once  more  see  the  crowds  of  geese,  brant,  and  ducks 
stretching  in  interminable  lines  across  the  sky ;  and 
have  them  flying  by  the  points  where  we  hide,  or 
dropping  to  our  stools  near  by,  as  plenteously  every 
day  as  we  can  now  kill  them,  in  exceptional  cases, 
from  the  battery.  When  their  feeding-grounds  are 
undisturbed,  their  multitudinous  hosts  will  again 
cover  the  waters  of  our  bays,  and  hold  their  noisy 
consultations  over  the  many  theories  and  crotchets 
which  are  disputed  in  duck  philosophy.  Then  the 
true  sportsman  will  visit  his  favorite  tavern,  located 
conveniently  at  the  edge  of  the  salt  meadows,  cer- 
tain, in  the  proper  season,  of  having  fair  sport ;  and 
the  willing  bay-man  will  again  reap  rich  and  per- 
manent harvests,  either  for  his  patron  or  himself. 

Now  a  good  bag  is  so  rare  that  gentlemen  seldom 
go  to  Long  Island  for  duck-shooting,  and  the  inha- 
bitants lose  a  valuable  custom  in  consequence ;  and 
although,  by  selecting  a  propitious  occasion,  the 
market-man  sometimes  still  kills  a  great  number,  he 
2 


26  GAME  AND   ITS  PROTECTION. 

experiences  a  vast  majority  of  poor  days.  It  is, 
therefore,  the  manifest  interest  of  both  classes  to 
repress  these  unjustifiable  and  murderous  modes  of 
shooting,  and  to  encourage,  by  all  possible  means, 
the  return  of  wild-fowl  to  their  former  favorite 
haunts — the  bays,  lagoons,  and  inlets  of  our  own 
beloved  coast. 


CHAPTER  IL 

GUNNERY — MUZZLE-LOADERS   AND   BREECH-LOADERS. 

To  the  young  sportsman,  armed  with  the  finest  of 
implements,  and  trusting  much  to  them  for  his  suc- 
cess, it  is  a  matter  of  mortification  and  surprise  how 
well  a  bad  gun  will  shoot  in  good  hands ;  never- 
theless, no  true  sportsman  ever  lived  but,  if  he 
were  able  by  any  self-denial  to  scrape  the  means 
together,  would  purchase  a  valuable  and  necessarily 
expensive  fowling-piece,  o^ot  only  is  a  wrell  made 
and  handsomely  finished  gun  safer  and  lighter  than 
a  cheap  affair  manufactured  for  the  wholesale  trade ; 
not  only  does  it  ordinarily  carry  closer  and  recoil 
less ;  but  it  needs  fewer  repairs,  lasts  infinitely  longer, 
and  is  always  a  matter  of  pride  and  delight  to  its 
owner. 

Many  guns  of  inferior  workmanship  throw  shot 
as  strongly  as  those  turned  out  by  the  best  makers — 
although  this  is  not  the  fact  in  general — but  greater 
weight  has  to  be  given  to  insure  tolerable  safety, 
and  the  locks,  if  not  the  barrels,  are  sure  to  give 
out  in  a  few  years ;  whereas  the  high-priced  article 
will  be  as  perfect  at  the  end  of  a  dozen  years — 
which  have  accustomed  its  owner  to  its  easy,  rapid, 
and  effective  management — as  it  was  in  the  begin- 
ning, and  will  endure  until  failing  sight,  wasting 


28      MUZZLE-LOADERS  AND   BREECH-LOADERS. 

disease,  or  accumulating  years,  shall  compel  its  trans- 
fer into  younger  hands. 

Unless  a  man  has  continual  practice,  or  is  an  ex- 
cellent shot,  it  is  a  serious  undertaking  to  change 
his  gun  and  accustom  himself  to  another,  which, 
although  apparently  identical  in  weight  and  shape, 
will  inevitably  differ  in  some  slight  point  that  will 
be  sufficient  to  destroy,  for  a  time,  accuracy  in  aim 
and  prompt  execution  in  cover.  Some  persons  re- 
quire months  to  acquire  the  effective  use  of  a  new 
gun  under  difficult  circumstances;  and  in  those 
dense  thickets  where  so  much  of  our  shooting  is 
done,  and  where  it  is  by  instinct  founded  upon  long 
habit  that  the  sportsman  is  enabled  at  all  to  kill 
his  game,  and  where  he  cannot  indulge  in  the  de- 
liberate care  that  more  open  shooting  allows — 
this  deficiency  will  be  most  painfully  apparent. 
For  such  persons  to  purchase  a  new  piece,  is  equi- 
valent to  throwing  away  the  sport  of  an  entire  sum- 
mer or  fall,  and  when  we  consider  that  few  of  us 
can  expect  to  average  more  than  forty  summers  or 
falls,  the  loss  of  one-fortieth  part  of  life's  enjoyment 
is  no  trivial  deprivation. 

A  very  cheap  gun  is  dangerous;  but  it  is  not  ex- 
pected that  any  person  reading  these  lines  will  trust 
his  life  with  an  instrument  that  common  sense  tells 
him  is  manufactured  to  kill  at  both  ends.  A  gun  of 
moderate  price,  that  is,  about  one  hundred  dollars, 
is  as  safe  as  the  most  expensive — the  iron  is  not  so 
tough,  but  more  of  it  is  used  ;  but  in  a  short  time 
the  barrels  will  wear  away  ;  the  locks,  losing  their 


MUZZLE-LOADERS  AND  BREECH-LOADERS.      29 

oi-iginal  quick  spring  and  sharp  click,  will  become 
dull  and  weak,  till  they  will  scarcely  discharge  the 
cap ;  and  the  stock,  warping  with  the  weather,  will 
exhibit  yawning  fissures  between  itself  and  the  iron 
lock-plates  or  false  breech. 

In  lightness,  however,  is  the  great  superiority  of 
the  highly  wrought  implement ;  and  in  hard  tramp- 
ing, through  a  dense  swamp  of  a  hot  July  day, 
or  deep  wading  in  a  soft  snipe-meadow,  or  in  a 
wearisome  trudge  over  hill  and  dale  after  Novem- 
ber quail,  a  pound  will  make  itself  felt  in  the  addi- 
tional weight  of  the  fowling-piece,  and  not  only  so, 
but  a  light  gun  can  be  handled  more  readily.  In 
open  shooting,  especially  for  the  wild  fowl  of  our 
bays  and  coasts,  mere  weight  is  a  positive  advan- 
tage ;  but  in  the  tangled  thickets,  where  birds  flash 
out  of  sight  like  gleams  of  party-colored  light,  and 
the  instantaneous  use  of  the  piece  can  alone  secure 
success,  a  light  gun  is  an  absolute  necessity. 

Moreover,  on  certain  occasions,  when  the  barrels 
are  exposed  to  an  extraordinary  strain,  when  the 
piece  built  for  light  charges  and  upland  shooting  is 
used  temporarily  upon  the  larger  game  of  the  coasts 
or  woods,  and  the  two  and  a  half  drachms  of  powder 
and  ounce  of  fine  shot  are  replaced  by  a  dozen  buck- 
shot, or  an  ounce  and  a  half  of  No.  3  driven  by  five 
drachms  of  powder — then  it  is  pleasant  to  feel  that 
the  iron  is  of  the  utmost  possible  tenacity  and  the 
workmanship  in  every  way  faultless. 

A  learned  dissertation  on  the  science  of  gun- 
nery is  neither  appropriate  to  the  occasion  nor 


30      MUZZLE-LOADERS  AND  BREECH-LOADERS. 

possible  to  the  author,  and  vvouTd  probably  prove 
as  little  entertaining  as  instructive  to  the  reader. 
The  majority  of  purchasers  cannot  form  an  exact 
opinion  relative  to  the  merits  of  a  gun  prepared 
with  the  utmost  skill  and  ingenuity  to  deceive  them, 
and  must  rely  mainly  on  the  word  of  the  seller  or 
reputation  of  the  maker.  There  is  something,  to 
be  sure,  in  the  smooth  working  of  the  locks,  and 
still  more  in  the  perfect  fitting  of  the  stock ;  but 
after  all,  even  to  the  experienced  sportsman,  there 
is  little  difference  in  appearance  between  the  Sham- 
damn  and  the  purest  laminated  steel. 

American  importers  have  a  peculiarly  moral 
and  respectable  habit  of  vending  German  guns 
stamped  with  the  names  of  English  makers,  and 
pacify  their  consciences  with  the  idea  that  the 
manufactures  of  Germany  are  not  inferior  to  those 
of  England ;  but  they  would  give  more  satisfaction 
to  the  public  and  more  ease  to  their  consciences  by 
proving  this  in  open  contest,  and  establishing  the 
reputation  of  the  German  makers,  than  by  appro- 
priating the  names  and  reputations  that  good 
work  has  made  famous.  So  far  is  this  deception 
carried,  that  some  houses  even  order  from  the  Bel- 
gian manufacturers  a  certain  number,  nominally,  of 
each  of  the  leading  gun-makers.  It  may  be  that 
there  is  little  real  difference,  although  on  the  con- 
tinental guns  you  sometimes  pay  for  useless  orna- 
ment, money  that  should  have  been  expended  where 
it  would  tell,  on  locks  and  barrels ;  but  the  mode  of* 
proceeding  is  certainly  not  creditable. 


MUZZLE-LOADERS  AND  BREECH-LOADERS.      31 

In  a  highly  finished  article  the  locks  usually  work 
with  a  smooth  oiliness  that  can  be  distinguished 
with  a  little  practice,  and  are  fitted  with  great 
accuracy  into  the  stock,  so  that  projections  of  wood 
will  be  left  standing  not  thicker  than  a  piece  of 
blotting-paper.  The  barrels  will  be  without  flaw 
or  indentation,  and  if  looked  through  with  the 
breech  removed,  will  exhibit  a  perfect  ring  of 
light  flowing  up  evenly,  as  they  are  raised  or  low- 
ered. The  mountings  will  be  faultless,  and  the  cuts 
in  all  the  screw-heads  will  point  in  the  same  direc- 
tion ;  the  screws  will  work  easily  and  yet  perfectly, 
and  the  triggers  and  trigger-plate,  which  are  inva- 
riably neglected  in  a  poor  gun,  will  be  admirably 
finished  and  fitted.  Examine  all  these  particulars, 
but  especially  the  last,  and  you  can  form  some  judg- 
ment whether  the  piece  comes  from  a  good  maker 
or  a  spurious  imitator. 

The  greatest  attention,  however,  in  the  selection 
of  a  gun  should  be  paid  to  the  form  of  the  stock 
and  the  pull  of  the  triggers ;  if  the  former  is  unsuited 
to  the  shape  of  the  purchaser,  or  the  latter  are  stiff 
or  dissimilar,  the  consequence  will  be  utter  failure 
that  no  amount  of  practice  will  remedy.  If  the  pur- 
chaser's arms  and  neck  are  long,  the  sto"ck  may  be 
long  and  crooked ;  but  if  the  contrary  is  the  case,  the 
stock  must  be  short  and  straight. 

If  possible,  the  person  intending  to  use  agun  should 
select  it  for  himself;  and  if  it  does  not  "come  up 
right "  the  first  time  he  brings  it  to  his  eye,  he  should 
refuse  it  positively.  He  must  not  allow  himself  to 


32      MUZZLE-LOADERS  AND  BREECH-LOADERS. 

be  persuaded  to  try  it  again  and  again ;  for  after 
one  or  two  trials  he  will  instinctively  adapt  his  eye 
to  its  construction,  and  will  imagine  the  gun  suits 
him — an  impression  that  the  rapid  flight  of  the  first 
quail  he  endeavors  to  cover  will  dissipate.  The 
triggers  should  give  back  at  a  weight  of  four  or  five 
pounds ;  the  hammers  of  a  muzzle-loader  at  ten  or 
twelve,  and  of  a  breech-loader  at  twelve  or  fourteen. 
For  the  former,  the  best  cone  is  what  is  called  the 
inverted,  where  the  bore  is  larger  at  the  top  and 
receives  the  entire  flame  from  the  cap. 

The  shape  of  the  breech  for  the  muzzle-loader  for- 
merly gave  rise  to  much  learned  disquisition  and 
many  plausible  theories ;  but,  in  all  probability,  had 
no  influence  on  the  shooting,  which  is  due  mainly  to 
the  form  and  quality  of  the  barrels.  Joe  Manton 
founded  his  fame  on  the  idea  that  the  lines  of  force, 
if  reflected  from  a  hollow  cup,  like  rays  of  light  from 
a  reflector,  would  be  directed  parallel  to  one  ano- 
ther and  lengthwise  of  the  barrel ;  but  later  expe- 
riments have  tended  to  destroy  this  theory.  The 
simple  fact  appears  to  be,  that  powder  exerts  just  so 
much  force,  and,  as  it  cannot  escape  sideways,  it 
must  go  out  at  the  end  of  the  barrel ;  and  that  the 
shape  of  the  breech,  except  so  far  as  it  may  affect 
the  rapidity  of  ignition,  has  no  influence  whatever. 

These  questions,  however,  are  being  effectually 
disposed  of  by  the  march  of  events  and  the  general 
diffusion  of  breech-loaders ;  to  the  latter,  as  they  are 
not  generally  known  or  appreciated  in  our  country — 
to  which,  by  its  natui'e  and  its  game,  they  are 


MUZZLE-LOADERS   AND   BREECH-LOADERS.      33 

peculiarly  adapted — the  writer's  remarks  will  be 
mainly  confined.  Feeling  entirely  convinced,  even 
from  a  short  experience,  of  their  superiority  in  most 
particulars,  and  their  equality  in  all,  he  regards  the 
consequence  as  inevitable  that  they  will  utterly 
supersede  the  old-fashioned  fowling-piece;  the  few 
defects  that  were  originally  alleged  to  exist  in  them 
having  been  either  removed  or  remedied,  and  the 
supply  of  ammunition  for  them  in  this  country 
having  become  sufficient.  They  have  won  their 
way  slowly  into  public  favor  against  the  interested 
opposition  of  gun-makers  on  one  hand,  and  the  igno- 
rance and  superstitious  dread  of  change  of  gun-users 
on  the  other. 

They  are  a  French  invention  of  twenty  years' 
standing,  and  proved  their  superiority  long  ago ; 
but  prejudice  was  too  strong  for  them,  as  it  has  been 
for  many  another  good  thing.  Their  merits,  never- 
theless, slowly  conquered  opposition,  convinced  the 
intelligent,  and  confounded  the  obstinate;  till  at 
last  in  England — the  very  hot-bed  of  prejudice  and 
the  favorite  abiding-place  of  antiquated  ideas — there 
are  now  sold  five  breech-loaders  to  one  muzzle- 
loader.  As  they  are  not  extensively  used  with  us, 
the  description  of  them  will  have  to  be  somewhat 
minute,  and  would  be  better  understood  if  the  reader 
would  take  the  trouble  to  examine  one  for  himself. 

The  best  and  most  generally  adopted  of  the  vari- 
ous kinds  is  the  Lefaucheux,  or  some  slight  modi- 
fication of  it;  and  to  that  the  attention  will  be  prin- 
cipally directed.  In  this  gun  the  breech,  which  in 
2* 


34      MUZZLE-LOADERS  AND  BREECH-LOADERS. 

the  muzzle-loader  screws  into  the  barrel,  is  omitted, 
and  the  barrels  are  open  at  both  ends ;  they  are 
fastened  to  the  stock  by  a  pin  and  joint  a  few  inches 
beyond  the  guard.  When  free,  the  muzzle  hangs 
down,  and  the  breech  end  presents  itself  several 
inches  above  the  stock,  so  that  the  cartridge  can  be 
readily  inserted  ;  when  the  barrels  are  pressed  back 
into  their  place  for  firing,  they  are  caught  by  a  bolt 
that  can  be  opened  or  closed  by  a  lever  lying  along  the 
under  part  of  the  stock,  between  the  guard  and  the 
joint.  The  false  breech  is  flat,  solid,  and  heavy,  and 
completes  the  barrels,  taking  the  place  and  perform- 
ing the  duty  of  the  breech  in  the  muzzle-loader. 
The  hammers  have  a  flat  surface  on  the  striking  end, 
and  the  locks  are  back-actioned,  to  avoid  interfering 
with  the  other  mechanism. 

A  cartridge  is  made  of  stout  paper,  shaped  like  a 
short  section  of  the  barrel,  with  a  brass  capsule  on 
one  end  and  open  at  the  other;  it  is  two  or  three 
inches  long,  and  has  a  pad  of  thick  paper  beneath 
the  capsule.  In  this  pad  a  hole  is  punched  on  the 
inside  and  the  percussion-cap  is  inserted,  with  a 
brass  pin  resting  in  it  and  projecting  above  the  cap- 
sule on  the  outside.  The  percussion-cap  is  entirely 
within  the  cartridge-case,  and  the  brass  pin  passes 
through  a  hole  drilled  in  one  side  of  the  capsule, 
just  large  enough  to  admit  it  and  exclude  moisture 
entirely.  A  blow  on  the  projecting  end  of  the  pin 
drives  the  other  end  into  the  cap,  and  discharges  the 
latter.  The  cai'tridge-case  is  prepared  already 
capped,  and  is  sold  in  England  for  from  thirty  to 


MUZZLE-LOADERS  AND  BREECH-LOADERS.      35 

fifty  shillings  the  thousand ;  it  may  be  recapped  by 
an  instrument  made  for  the  purpose  with  a  peculiar 
cap,  and  may  be  used,  on  an  average,  three  times. 

The  cartridge  must  be  loaded  as  the  gun  would 
be,  only  by  the  use  of  a  short  ramrod  or  a  special 
loading  implement ;  the  powder  is  poured  in,  a  wad 
placed  above  it,  and  the  shot  and  another  wad  follow. 
The  cartridge  may  then  be  trimmed  down  and  the 
end  bent  over,  so  as  to  retain  the  load  securely,  if  it 
is  to  be  carried  for  a  considerable  distance ;  but 
where  the  shooting  is  from  a  boat  or  stand,  the  case 
should  be  left  untrimmed  and  of  full  length.  A 
chamber  is  cut  away  in  the  lower  part  of  the  barrel, 
which  corresponds  exactly  with  the  cartridge-case, 
so  that  the  latter  fits  perfectly  in  it ;  but,  if  there  is 
an  interval  between  the  end  of  the  cartridge  and  the 
shoulder  in  the  ban-el,  no  injury  to  the  charge  or  the 
shooting  appears  to  result.  A  small  notch  is  cut  in 
the  upper  edge  of  the  barrel  to  contain  the  brass  pin, 
and  allow  it  to  project  so  as  to  receive  the  blow  from 
the  hammer. 

When  the  bolt  is  withdrawn  and  the  barrels  are 
allowed  to  fall  so  as  to  bring  the  open  breech  fairly 
into  view,  the  loaded  cartridge  is  inserted,  the  bar- 
rels are  sprung  back  to  their  place  with  a  sharp  snap 
that  sends  them  home  at  once,  and  are  ready  to  be 
discharged.  To  allow  the  cartridge  to  be  inserted, 
the  hammers  must  be  drawn  to  half  or  full  cock ; 
and  when  the  trigger  is  pulled,  they  fall  upon  the 
pin,  which  penetrates  the  cap  and  fires  the  load. 
The  entire  mechanism  is  so  simple  that  it  can  hardly 


36      MUZZLE-LOADERS  AND  BREECH-LOADERS. 

become  deranged,  and  will  last  as  long  as  the  bar- 
rels. The  greatest  care  is  necessary  in  making  the 
chamber  that  receives  the  cartridge  of  a  proper 
shape,  for  if  this  is  faulty  the  cartridges  are  apt  to 
stick  after  explosion. 

There  is  no  decided  improvement  on  the  original 
Lefaucheux  model,  except  in  the  modification  of  the 
machinery,  and  a  convenient  method  of  separating 
the  barrels  from  the  stock  ;  and  no  other  innovation 
of  a  like  character  need  be  particularly  described. 
The  needle-gun,  which  is  made  on  a  somewhat 
similar  principle,  is  more  curious  than  valuable, 
being  both  dangerous  and  complicated,  and  pos- 
sesses no  advantages  over  the  other  pattern.  In  it 
the  cartridge  has  a  percussion-cap  so  disposed  at  its 
base  that  it  is  penetrated  by  a  needle,  which  is  pro- 
jected by  a  spring  through  a  hole  in  the  lower  end 
of  the  cartridge ;  but  the  composition  of  the  cartridge, 
and  the  manner  of  its  insertion,  are  altogether  dif- 
ferent from  the  same  in  the  Lefaucheux  gun. 

According  to  the  arrangement  of  some  English 
guns,  on  a  plan  invented  by  Jeffries,  the  lever, 
instead  of  closing  forward,  lies  under  the  trigger- 
guard,  when  the  barrels  ai*e  closed ;  and  provision 
is  made  for  tightening  the  bolt,  in  case  it  wears  loose 
by  long  usage.  This  invention  permits  of  the  use 
of  forward-action  locks,  and  the  easy  separation  of 
the  barrels  from  the  stock,  and  has  come  into  vogue 
in  England;  it  is  undoubtedly  convenient  in  both 
these  particulars,  and  has  as  yet  developed  no  cor- 
responding drawbacks. 


MUZZLE-LOADERS  AND  BREECH-LOADERS.      37 

Personally,  the  writer  has  always  preferred  British 
to  French  or  Belgian  guns,  although  chance  has 
compelled  him  to  own  as  many  of  the  latter  as  the 
former.  The  English  gun  is  made  for  work ;  even 
when  cheaply  manufactured,  it  will  be  found  effec- 
tive where  efficiency  is  necessary  ;  and  it  is  far  more 
beautiful  to  the  eye  of  a  true  sportsman,  with  its 
plain  blued  lock-plates,  and  total  deficiency  of  orna- 
ment, than  the  Continental  weapon,  covered  with 
engraving  and  ornamentation,  but  defective  in  some 
of  those  minutiae  that  lend  nothing  to  its  beauty, 
but  add  much  to  its  usefulness.  This  is  particularly 
the  case  with  breech-loaders,  which,  if  not  manu- 
factured carefully,  are  almost  useless,  and  which, 
although  originally  invented  in  France,  are  at  this 
day  produced  in  more  serviceable  style — unless 
where  the  highest-priced  article  is  obtained — in  Eng- 
land than  in  the  country  of  their  origin.  Great  dis- 
credit was  brought  upon  breech-loaders  among  us  at 
their  first  introduction,  in  consequence  of  the  impor- 
tation of  inferior  articles,  and  they  still  labor  under 
the  disadvantages  of  that  failure,  although  rapidly 
overcoming  all  objections. 

There  are  a  few  implements  that  are  necessary  to 
the  use  of  a  breech-loader,  which  are  much  simpler 
than  they  at  first  appear.  To  load  the  cartridge  is 
required  either  a  short  ramrod  and  a  machine  for 
turning  over  the  edges  of  the  case  upon  the  wad,  to 
retain  it  in  its  place,  or  an  apparatus,  also  invented 
by  Jeffries,  that  combines  all  the  requisites  for  load- 
ing, and  by  the  aid  of  which  a  hundred  cartridges 


36512.1. 


38      MUZZLE-LOADERS   AND  BREECH-LOADERS. 

can  be  loaded  in  an  hour.  As  the  case  can  be  used 
several  times,  and  the  cap,  which  is  of  a  peculiar 
size,  has  to  be  placed  in  its  exact  position  to  receive 
the  pin,  a  capper  invented  for  the  purpose  is  era- 
ployed,  by  which  the  cap  is  inserted,  and  the  pin 
pressed  into  it  without  the  least  difficulty;  a  pair 
of  tweezers  are  used  to  withdraw  the  pin  after  a 
discharge,  in  order  to  free  the  old  cap  and  make 
room  for  the  new,  and  a  large  gimlet  will  be  found 
useful  for  extracting  any  discharged  caps  that  may 
happen  to  stick. 

A  cleaning-apparatus  is  also  occasionally  used, 
consisting  of  a  brush  at  one  end  of  a  string  and  a 
small  weight  at  the  other ;  the  weight  is  dropped 
through  the  open  barrel  and  the  brush  drawn  after 
it;  but,  as  the  gun  may  be  fired  ten  times  as  often 
as  a  muzzle-loader  without  fouling,  a  plain  rag  and 
cleaning-rod  will  answer.  Cartridge-cases,  of 
course,  cannot  be  obtained  like  powder  and  shot 
at  every  country  store,  and  to  obviate  the  danger 
of  finding  oneself,  after  extraordinary  good-luck 
with  a  gun,  -without  the  means  of  firing  it,  it  is 
well  to  carry  a  couple  of  brass  cases,  which  can  be 
used  with  a  common  French  cap,  and  reloaded  in- 
definitely almost  as  quickly  as  a  muzzle-loader. 

The  sportsman,  by  the  aid  of  these  implements 
and  a  couple  of  scoops  with  handles  for  powder 
and  shot,  recaps  the  cartridges  which  have  been 
discharged,  loads  them  as  he  would  a  gun,  only 
much  more  rapidly,  and  lays  them  aside  for  future 
use.  In  the  field,  he  carries  them  in  a  leather  case, 


MUZZLE-LOADERS  AND  BREECH-LOADERS.  '  39 

or,  which  is  the  preferable  plan,  in  a  belt  round  the 
waist,  or  in  his  pockets,  being  able  to  store  in  the 
pockets  of  his  vest  alone  at  least  twenty.  The 
.  English  sportsmen  carry  them  loose  in  the  pockets 
of  their  shooting-coats ;  but  a  belt  is  convenient  and 
commodious,  holding  from  thirty  to  fifty,  and  dis- 
tributes the  weight  pleasantly.  Where  the 'shoot- 
ing is  to  be  done  from  a  boat  or  stand,  of  course 
they  will  be  kept  in  an  ammunition-box,  without 
having  their  edges  turned  over,  as  there  will  be 
nothing  to  loosen  the  wads. 

The  reader  may  naturally  suppose  that  there  is 
risk  in  carrying  a  number  of  loaded  cartridges  about 
the  person  ;  but  in  this  he  is  entirely  mistaken.  In 
the  first  place,  the  difficulty  of  discharging  a  car- 
tridge, except  in  the  gun,  is  surprising ;  no  pressure 
will  explode  the  cap,  and  no  ordinary  blow,  unless 
the  cartridge  is  retained  in  a  fixed  position  ;  and  if 
one  falls,  the  weight  of  the  shot  compels  it  inevi- 
tably to  fall  on  the  end :  but  in  case  these  difficulties 
are  overcome,  the  result  is  merely  the  discharge  of 
a  large  fire-cracker. 

The  writer  instituted  a  number  of  experiments, 
and  having  succeeded,  after  many  trials,  in  setting 
off  the  cartridge,  found  that  the  powder  burst  the 
paper,  but  failed  to  drive  the  wad  out  of  the  case. 
This  was  tried  with  cartridges  in  all  positions,  hori- 
zontal and  perpendicular,  but  produced  invariably 
the  same  result,  with  unimportant  modifications; 
and  it  was  farther  ascertained  that  the  fire  from  one 
would  not  communicate  to  another.  So  that,  if  a 


40      MUZZLE-LOADERS  AND  BREECH-LOADERS. 

cartridge  does  explode  accidentally,  it  may  scorch 
the  clothes  or  even  burn  the  person  slightly,  but 
can  inflict  no  serious  injury.  These  remarks,  how- 
ever, do  not  apply  to  the  brass  cartridge-cases, 
which  must  be  handled  more  carefully.  The  com- 
mon paper-cases  may  therefore  be  carried  with  per- 
fect impunity,  and  transported,  if  carefully  packed, 
without  risk. 

A  more  curious  idea — for  the  dread  of  danger 
from  the  loaded  cartridge  is  natural — prevailed  at 
one  time,  that  the  barrels  were  weakened  because 
they  were  open  behind,  instead  of  being  closed  by 
the  breech-screw ;  as  if  a  cylinder  would  be  rendered 
more  cohesive  by  screwing  another  piece  of  metal 
into  one  end.  In  fact,  if  the  breech-screw  has  any 
effect  whatever  upon  the  strength  of  the  gun,  its 
presence  is  probably  an  injury.  The  charge,  it  will 
be  observed,  presses  against  the  shot  on  one  side 
and  the  false  breech  on  the  other,  and  would  not  be 
retained  any  more  securely  by  the  addition  of  a 
breech-screw,  which  tends  to  separate  instead  of 
closing  the  barrel.  So,  also,  it  must  be  borne  in 
mind  there  is  no  strain  worth  mentioning  on  the 
hinge-bolt,  and  no  danger  of  the  barrels  blowing 
away  with  the  charge ;  while  the  disposal  of  the 
metal  at  the  false  breech,  and  the  omission  of  the 
ramrod,  tends  to  make  the  gun  light  at  the  muzzle — 
a  great  advantage  in  snap-shooting. 

There  is  absolutely  no  escape  of  gas  at  the  break- 
off;  none  can  escape  unless  the  brass  capsule,  which 
closes  the  joint  hermetically,  can  be  driven  out,  and 


MUZZLE-LOADERS  AND  BREECH-LOADERS.      41 

this  is  a  sheer  impossibility.  The  gas  cannot  pene- 
trate the  paper  of  the  cartridge,  and  if  it  bursts  the 
latter,  still  cannot  escape  except  through  the  brass  ; 
and  although  the  least  perceptible  amount  may  come 
out  alongside  of  the  pin,  it  is  scarcely  traceable,  and 
nothing  like  what  is  lost  at  the  percussion-cap  in  the 
common  gun.  These  cartridges  are  wonderfully 
close,  as  the  reader  may  conclude  when  he  is  in- 
formed that  a  loaded  breech-loader,  left  entirely 
under  water  for  fifteen  minutes,  was  discharged  as 
promptly  as  though  it  had  never  been  wet ;  while  a 
muzzle-loader,  that  had  not  been  half  so  long  ex- 
posed, would  not  go  at  all,  and  required  an  hour's 
cleaning.  In  fact,  the  breech-loader  is  entirely  im- 
pervious to  any  ordinary  wetting,  will  not  fail  in 
the  worst  rain,  and  the  average  number  of  miss-fires, 
in  well  made  cartridges,  is  one  in  a  thousand. 

In  the  handling  of  this  gun  there  is  one  peculi- 
arity: the  pins  rise  from  the  middle  of  the  car- 
tridge, and  not  at  one  side,  like  the  ordinary  cones, 
thus  bringing  the  hammers  closer  together.  To  the 
beginner  this  may  appear  awkward,  but  is  no  real 
disadvantage.  It  would  seem  also  desirable  to  use 
more  powder  with  a  breech-loader,  although  this  is 
not  necessary  to  so  great  an  extent  as  it  was  for- 
merly ;  but,  on  the  other  hand,  the  weight  at  the 
breech  appears  either  to  diminish  the  recoil  or  reduce 
its  effects  on  the  shooter ;  as  the  testimony  of  persons 
using  breech-loaders  is  unanimous  that  the  recoil  is 
less  perceptible  than  with  muzzle-loaders,  although 
the  scales  have  refused  to  verify  their  impression. 


42      MUZZLE-LOADERS  AND  BREECH-LOADERS. 

One  immense  advantage  of  the  breech-loader  is 
its  safety  in  loading,  especially  in  a  confined  posi- 
tion, as  on  a  boat  or  in  a  battery,  Whereas,  in 
the  muzzle-loader,  immediately  after  the  discharge, 
while  the  smoke  is  still  pouring  from  the  barrel,  and 
while  the  fire  may  be  smouldering  invisible  below, 
the  sportsman  deliberately  pours  in  a  fresh  charge 
of  powder,  holding  his  hand  and  the  entire  flask 
over  the  muzzle,  endangering  his  life,  and  incurring 
injury  far  more  frequently  than  most  persons  sup- 
pose ;  with  the  breech-loader,  the  barrels  are  opened 
and  fall  into  such  a  position  that  no  discharge  can 
take  place,  and  never  point  towards  the  person  of 
their  owner. 

Several  of  the  writer's  friends  have  been  maimed 
for  life  by  the  premature  discharge  of  a  load  in  the 
muzzle-loader  from  a  spark  remaining  in  the  barrel ; 
the  risk  connected  with  it  has  always  seemed  very 
great ;  and  even  with  the  patent  flasks,  which  are 
hardly  practical  inventions,  more  or  less  unavoid- 
able. This  danger  is  entirely  obviated  by  the  breech- 
loader, which  cannot  go  off  until  the  barrels  are 
restored  to  position  after  the  charges  are  inserted  ; 
cannot  leave  hidden  sparks  to  imperil  the  owner's 
life  or  limb ;  never  expose  the  hand  over  the 
loaded  barrel,  that  may  have  been  left  at  half-cock, 
if  the  sportsman  is  liable  to  thoughtlessness  or 
over-excitement ;  and  which  can  be  loaded  without 
difficulty  in  the  most  confined  position.  So,  not 
only  do  we  have  rapidity,  but  entire  safety  in  load- 
ing. 


MUZZLE-LOADEES  AND  BREECH-LOADERS.      43 

The  objections,  however,  urged  against  breech- 
loaders have  not  been  few,  and,  if  well  founded, 
forbid  the  use  of  the  gun ;  if,  as  has  been  said,  the 
target  is  not  so  good,  nor  the  shot  sent  with  as 
much  force,  the  requisites  of  a  first-class  sporting 
implement  are  wanting.  These  charges,  freely  ad- 
vanced, have  been  sustained  in  a  measure  by  the 
wretched  performance  of  poor  guns,  but  have  finally 
been  brought  to  the  only  true  test — actual  experi- 
ence, under  equal  conditions  ;  and  by  this  test  have 
been^  so  utterly  annihilated  that  their  discussion  is 
only  necessary  on  account  of  popular  ignorance  of 
the  experiments.  When  breech-loaders  first  came 
prominently  before  the  English  public,  their  sup- 
posed merits  and  demerits  were  discussed  in  the 
sporting  papers  in  an  animated  and  violent  manner ; 
and  in  order  to  settle  the  questions  at  issue,  the 
editor  of  the  London  Field  determined  to  have  an 
open  trial,  where  the  breech-loaders  and  muzzle- 
loaders  could  be  fairly  matched  against  one  another. 
The  contests  took  place  in  1858  and  1859,  and  being 
carefully  conducted,  settled  the  dispute  for  the  time 
being,  and,  even  before  the  latest  improvements, 
established  more  fully  the  superiority  of  the  breech- 
loader. The  best  guns  and  gun-makers  of  England 
were  represented ;  and  in  spite  of  occasional  varia- 
tion and  accidental  luck — as  in  the  pattern  of  the 
first  muzzle-loader — the  prejudices  against  the  mo- 
dern ann  were  so  entirely  dissipated  that  the  old- 
fashioned  guns  are  at  present  rarely  sold. 

Since  that  trial   considerable   advance   has  been 


44      MUZZLE-LOADERS  AND  BREECH-LOADERS. 

made  in  the  minutiae  of  the  manufacture ;  and  now 
it  is  the  general  impression  of  those  acquainted  with 
the  arm,  that  the  breech-loader,  with  a  slight  addi- 
tional increase  of  powder,  shoots  both  stronger  and 
closer  than  its  rival.  In  the  pigeon-match  between 
the  nobility  and  gentry  of  England  in  1863,  described 
in  the  London  Field,  volume  xxiii.,  p.  389,  where  it 
is  to  be  supposed  that  the  best  implements  the 
country  could  furnish  were  used,  and  where  some 
of  the  shooting  was  done  at  thirty  yards,  the  first 
and  second  prizes  were  both  taken  by  breech-loaders. 
With  all  allowance  for  the  quality  of  the  marksman, 
the  quality  of  the  gun  that  wins  a  match  at  English 
"  blue-rocks  "  must  unquestionably  be  good ;  and. 
this,  the  universal  experience  of  those  matter-of-fact 
John  Bulls,  who  test  everything  by  success,  has  en- 
tirely confirmed. 

A  trial  of  guns  was  made  in  1859,  and  the  results 
were  published  in  tabular  form  in  The  Shot-Gun 
and  Sporting  JRifle,  by  Stonehenge,  p.  304.  The 
targets  were  made  of  double  bag-cap  paper,  90  Ibs. 
to  the  ream,  circular,  thirty  inches  in  diameter,  with 
a  centre  of  twelve  inches  square,  and  were  nailed 
against  a  smooth  surface  of  deal  boards.  The  centres 
were  composed  of  forty  thicknesses  for  forty  yards, 
and  twenty  for  sixty  yards,  and  weighed  eighteen 
and  nine  ounces  respectively,  with  such  slight  varia- 
tion as  will  always  occur  in  brown  paper.  The 
powder  was  Laurence's  No.  2,  the  shot  No.  6,  con- 
taining 290  pellets  to  the  ounce,  and  the  charges 
were  weighed  in  every  instance. 


MUZZLE-LOADERS  AND   BREECH-LOADERS.      45 


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46      MUZZLE-LOADERS  AND   BREECH-LOADERS. 


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MUZZLE-LOADERS  AND  BREECH-LOADERS.      47 

The  guns  were  classified  according  to  their  weight. 
The  breech-loaders,  which  used  one  quarter  of  a 
drachm  more  powder,  showed  about  an  equal  re- 
coil ;  the  recoil  differed  surprisingly,  ranging  from 
44  to  76  Ibs.,  and  was  no  indication  of  the  power 
with  which  the  shot  was  driven — a  greater  number 
of  sheets  being  pierced  where  the  recoil  was  under 
the  average.  The  patterns  produced  by  the  muzzle- 
loaders  varied  from  those  of  the  breech-loaders  less 
than  they  did  from  one  another,  and  far  less  than 
that  of  one  barrel  differed  from  that  of  the  other ;  in 
fact,  the  right-hand  barrel  seems  to  have  shot  much 
the  best,  and  some  of  the  guns  that  excelled  at  40 
yards  fell  far  behindhand  at  60  yards. 

In  penetration,  which  is  a  more  valuable  quality 
in  a  gun  than  even  pattern,  the  breech-loaders  took 
the  lead ;  one  pierced  through  40  sheets  and  another 
through  39  sheets,  so  that  the  vaunted  superiority 
of  the  old  gun  in  this  particular  was  found  not  to 
exist.  It  was  further  noted  that  a  great  improve- 
ment in  this  particular  had  taken  place  in  the  breech- 
loaders since  the  trial  of  the  year  previous,  which 
improvement  has  been  going  on  steadily  since.  The 
trial  also  proved  that,  although  the  breech-loaders 
required  an  extra  amount  of  powder  to  give  them 
force,  it  caused  in  them  no  additional  recoil,  and 
was  objectionable  in  so  far  only  as  it  entailed  extra 
expense  and  weight  of  ammunition.  The  muzzle- 
loader  was  left,  to  offset  its  numerous  inferiorities, 
nothing  more  than  a  claim  to  diminished  weight  of 
gun  and  ammunition,  and  a  trifling  saving  in  ex- 


48      MUZZLE-LOADERS  AND  BREECH-LOADERS. 

pense ;  in  force  and  pattern  it  was  equalled ;  in 
safety  and  handiness  it  was  far  surpassed  by  its 
competitor. 

A  book  called  the  Dead  Shot,  which  has  been 
circulated  extensively  in  our  country,  remarkable 
more  for  the  wonderful  number  of  mistakes,  if  not 
absurdities,  that  it  contains,  than  for  any  other 
quality,  denounces  the  breech-loaders  in  unmeasured 
terms,  and,  among  others,  gives  the  following  cate- 
gorical objections,  to  each  of  which  the  writer  ap- 
pends, from  personal  experience,  what  he  considers 
an  answer.  The  Dead  Shot  says : 

"  1.  The  breech-loader  does  not  shoot  so  strong 
nor  kill  so  far  as  the  muzzle-loader,  though  allowed 
a  quarter  of  a  drachm  of  powder  extra." 

The  contrary  was  proved  at  the  Field  trial,  as 
shown  by  the  foregoing  tables,  and  is  proved  in  the 
field  daily. 

"  2.  The  breech-loader  is,  of  necessity,  much 
heavier  than  a  muzzle-loader  of  the  same  gauge." 

About  one  quarter  of  a  pound. 

"  3.  It  is  more  expensive  as  regards  ammunition, 
and  also  as  to  the  gun  itself — the  latter  by  reason 
of  its  not  lasting  so  long,  and  its  greater  liability  to 
get  out  of  repair  than  a  muzzle-loader." 

The  cartridge-cases  cost  about  twenty  dollars  a 
thousand ;  so  that  if  they  are  used  but  once,  a  single 
additional  quail  or  woodcock  will  pay  for  ten  of 
them.  The  same  wise  economy  raised  this  objec- 
tion of  expense  against  percussion-caps  when  first 
introduced.  The  gun  lasts  longer,  as  there  is  no 


MUZZLE-LOADERS  AND  BREECH-LOADERS.      "49 

breech  to  become  rusty  or  burnt  out  with  percussion 
powder,  and  the  barrels  may  always  be  kept  in  per- 
fect cleanliness. 

"  4.  The  recoil  on  discharge  is  heavier  and  the 
report  louder  than  that  produced  by  the  muzzle- 
loader." 

The  first  portion  of  this  paragraph  is  answered  by 
the  foregoing  tables,  and  the  second  is  not  only  false 
but  childish. 

"  5.  The  penetration  of  wet  and  damp  in  rains, 
fogs,  or  mists,  between  the  false  breech  and  barrels, 
and  often  into  the  cartridge  itself,  cannot  be  avoided 
in  the  present  form  of  breech-loader,  more  especially 
in  one  that  has  been  much  used.  And  if  the  car- 
tridge-case gets  damp,  it  adheres  to  the  barrel,  and 
cannot  be  removed  without  considerable  difficulty." 

That  rain  cannot  penetrate  the  cartridge-case  is 
pretty  well  proved  by  the  experience  already  men- 
tioned of  firing  a  gun  that  had  been  under  water 
fifteen  minutes;  and  if  dampness  gets  in  between 
the  false  breech  and  barrels,  or  under  the  latter,  the 
parts  should  be  wiped  dry  after  use.  The  residue  of 
this  paragraph  is  answered  below. 

"  6.  There  is  obviously  a  greater  risk  of  bursting; 
indeed,  the  safety  of  a  breech-loader,  after  much 
usage,  becomes  doubtful  by  reason  of  the  escape  of 
gas  between  the  false  breech  and  barrels,  particu- 
larly after  the  trying  vibrations  of  heavy  charges." 

There  is  no  such  escape  of  gas,  and  "  obviously  " 
can  be  none,  unless  it  can  find  its  way  through  nearly 
a  quarter  of  an  inch  of  solid  paper  and  brass.  Does 
3 


50      MUZZLE-LOADERS  AND  BREECH-LOADERS. 

the  comparatively  excessive  escape  of  gas  at  the  cone 
and  vent  of  a  muzzle-loader  endanger  its  safety  ?  and 
will  the  "  trying  vibration  "  of  one  cartridge  affect 
the  strength  of  another  not  in  the  barrel  at  the  time  ? 

"  7.  The  time  and  trouble  required  in  filling  the 
cartridges,  and  the  danger  attending  that  operation 
before  going  out  shooting,  are  very  considerable ; 
and  it  is  with  one  peculiar  form  of  cartridge  only 
that  the  breech-loader  can  be  used ;  and  if  purchased 
of  the  gun-maker  ready  filled,  they  come  very  expen- 
sive." 

This  paragraph  is  unanswerable ;  as  no  source  of 
danger  in  loading  the  cartridges  is  specified,  the  wri- 
ter is  at  a  loss  to  know  what  is  meant — there  being,  in 
his  experience,  no  danger  whatever.  As  for  the 
trouble,  it  is  far  less  than  that  of  loading  the  gun. 

"  8.  The  operation  of  making  and  filling  the  car- 
tridge is  to  a  sportsman  a  tedious,  dirty,  dangerous, 
and  laborious  one — quite  as  much  so  as  making  fire- 
works." 

This  may  be  true  of  making  the  cartridges,  which 
no  sportsman  ever  thinks  of  doing  more  than  he 
would  of  making  percussion-caps,  which  is  a  far 
more  dangerous  employment.  The  filling  them  is 
identically  the  same  as  loading  a  gun,  omitting  cap- 
ping, but  without  its  dirt  or  danger.  If  loading  a 
gun  is  akin  to  making  fireworks,  so  may  be  loading 
cartridges.  In  fact,  using  cartridges  is  merely  load- 
ing at  a  convenient  season  expeditiously,  and  may 
be  done  to  the  extent  of  thousands  without  soiling 
the  hands. 


MUZZLE-LOADERS   AND  BREECH-LOADERS.      51 

"  9.  Another  serious  objection  to  the  breech- 
loader is  the  weight  of  ammunition  that  must  be 
carried  in  the  shape  of  ready-made  cartridges  when 
going  to  the  Highlands  or  any  remote  shooting 
quarter.  And  then  arises  the  difficulty  of  keeping 
them  perfectly  dry  in  damp  weather  ;  and  every  one 
knows  how  very  soon  the  damp  will  penetrate 
through  a  paper  case,  and  cake,  and  weaken  the 
force  of  the  gunpowder." 

If  the  cartridge  cases  are  carried  unloaded,  the 
bulk  of  ammunition  is  increased;  if  loaded — and 
they  are  as  safe  as  powder  in  mass — neither  the 
weight  nor  bulk  is  at  all  increased.  The  powder 
might  be  injured  in  very  damp  weather  in  the  course 
of  years  ;  but  such  an  occurrence  has  not  yet  come 
before  the  public. 

"  10.  The  cartridges  must  be  carried  in  a  strong  case 
with  divisional  compartments.  In  the  event  of  their 
being  carried  loose,  they  become  damaged  ;  and  the 
danger  of  so  carrying  them  is  excessive,  by  reason  of 
the  results  which  may  ensue  in  the  event  of  a  fall 
or  accident  in  getting  over  a  hedge,  or  otherwise, 
whereby  a  blow  or  friction  is  given  to  the  metal 
pin  which  explodes  the  cap." 

Friction  will  not  discharge  them,  and  no  ordinary 
blow  ;  and,  hi  case  of  explosion,  the  danger  is  merely 
what  may  result  from  the  discharge  of  a  charge  of 
powder  in  the  open  air — by  no  means  so  great,  but 
about  as  probable  as  from  the  explosion  of  the  caps 
in  the  cap-pocket.  The  writer  has  never  heard 
of  such  an  occurrence,  and  English  sportsmen 


52      MUZZLE-LOADERS  AND  BREECH-LOADERS. 

universally  carry  cartridges  loose  in  their  pock- 
ets. 

"  11.  The  extra  weight  incurred  in  being  obliged 
to  carry  a  sufficient  number  of  cartridges  for  a  day's 
sport,  in  a  very  cumbersome  leather  case,  with  iron 
compartments,  considerably  exceeds  the  ordinary 
weight  of  powder-flask  and  shot-pouch,  with  ammu- 
nition for  a  similar  amount  of  sport." 

This  may  be,  if  any  one  is  fool  enough  to  use  iron 
compartments ;  but  in  a  proper  receptacle — a  leather 
belt — the  weight  is  much  less. 

"  12.  Another  of  the  principal  defects  in  the 
breech-loader  is  the  flat  surface  of  the  breech,  which 
scientific  and  practical  experimenters  have  proved  to 
be  erroneous,  by  reason  of  the  much  greater  power 
and  extra  force  which  may  be  obtained  from  the 
conical  interior  form  of  solid  breech — the  rule  being 
that  '  force  cannot  be  expended  and  retained  also  ; ' 
and  as  it  must,  of  necessity,  be  expended  to  a  certain 
degree  by  explosion  and  recoil  on  a  flat-surfaced 
breech,  extra  powder  is  required  to  produce  like 
effects  to  those  which  result  from  the  solid  conical 
breech.  The  recoil  is  also  considerably  greater  on 
a  flat  surface  than  on  a  tapering  one." 

So  much  of  the  foregoing  as  is  comprehensible,  the 
tables  of  the  Field  trial  "and  practical  experi- 
menters" have  found  to  be  erroneous.  It  will  also 
be  borne  in  mind  that  the  inside  end  of  the  cartridge- 
case  is  conical. 

"  13.  Joints,  joinings,  slides,  and  bolts,  are  all 
inferior  to  a  well-made  screw,  as  regards  soundness 


MUZZLE-LOADEKS  AND   BREECH-LOADERS.      53 

of  the  breech.  A  perfectly  solid  breech,  free  from 
all  suspicious  joinings,  curves,  and  openings,  must  be 
by  far  the  safer  and  more  effective  one  in  any  instru- 
ment, in  which  so  searching  a  substance  as  gunpow- 
der has  to  be  compressed  and  exploded." 

If  this  last  objection  is  correct  the  others  are 
superfluous,  as  it  disposes  of  the  discussion;  and  the 
statement  will  be  true  whenever  it  can  be  shown 
that  the  cohesion  of  a  tube  is  increased  by  forcing  a 
screw  into  it.  To  silence,  however,  such  senseless 
cavils,  gun-makers  construct  the  breech  end  of  the 
barrels  slightly  heavier  than  in  the  muzzle-loader. 

These  being  the  greater  disadvantages,  the  Dead 
Shot  then  adverts  to  the  minor  ones : 

"  On  reloading,  it  is  necessary  to  draw  out  the  case 
of  the  discharged  cartridge  before  inserting  a  full 
one.  It  is  true  the  discharged  cartridge  may  gene- 
rally be  withdrawn  almost  instantly  ;  but  if  intended 
to  be  refilled  and  used  another  day,  it  must  be  care- 
fully replaced  in  the  cartridge-case  in  one  of  the 
divisional  compartments,  for  if  carried  loose  in  the 
pocket  it  is  soon  spoilt.  Therefore,  if  these  impor- 
tant minutiae  be  taken  into  consideration,  it  will  be 
found,  after  all,  that  there  is  very  little  saving  of 
time  in  re-charging  the  breech-loader." 

This  is  the  acme  of  captiousness ;  as  though  the 
cases  might  not  be  placed  in  the  pocket  till  a  favor- 
able opportunity  presented  to  return  them  to  their 
compartments.  To  any  one  who,  with  numbed 
hands  on  a  bitterly  cold  December  morning,  is 
watching  for  ducks  at  daybreak,  and  who  looks  to 


54      MUZZLE-LOADERS  AND   BREECH-LOADERS; 

reloading  as  a  difficulty  and  recapping  an  impos- 
sibility, the  large,  easily  handled  cartridge  is  a  bless- 
ing that  he  will  never  forget ;  and  any  one  who,  hav- 
ing used  a  breech-loader,  will  pretend  that  it  cannot 
be  loaded  on  the  average  infinitely  faster  than  the 
muzzle-loader,  is  guilty  of  prevarication.  In  truth  it 
can  be  reloaded  in  less  time  than  the  other  gun  can 
be  recapped. 

"  With  regard  to  refilling  the  cartridge-cases,  the 
makers  warrant  that  the  discharged  cases  may  be 
refilled  and  used  again  with  the  same  facility  and 
effect,  some  of  them  two  or  three  times.  This,  how- 
ever, is  not  always  so;  on  the  contrary,  the  cases 
expand  so  much  on  explosion  of  the  powder,  that 
when  refilled  they  are  sometimes  not  only  difficult  to 
thrust  into  the  barrel,  but  on  second  explosion  they 
stick  so  fast  that  in  many  instances  the  copper  end 
comes  off,  on  the  case  being  attempted  to  be  with- 
drawn, and  the  paper  is  left  inside.  And  then,  unless 
a  loading-rod  is  at  hand  with  which  to  force  out  the 
paper  case,  your  breech-loader  is  powerless." 

Were  it  not  for  the  next  clause,  one  could  suppose 
that  Dead  Shot  had  never  heard  of  an  extractor, 
which  is  a  little  instrument  not  so  large  as  a  cone 
wrench,  always  carried  in  the  shooter's  pocket,  and 
with  which  the  paper  can  be  pulled  out  in  about  two 
seconds'  time,  without  possibility  of  failure ;  until 
this  is  done,  and  for  those  two  seconds,  "  your  breech- 
loader is  indeed  powerless." 

"  None  but  those  who  have  experienced  the  dif- 
ficulty of  extracting  a  bursted  cartridge-case,  which 


MUZZLE-LOADERS  AND  BREECH-LOADERS.      55 

adheres  firmly  to  the  sides  of  the  barrel,  can  imagine 
the  annoyance  it  causes ;  and  if  the  cases  get  damp, 
or  if  refilled  ones  are  used,  the  difficulty  is  con- 
stantly occurring.  And  then  the  '  extractor '  is  of 
little  use,  beyond  pulling  away  the  brass  bottom,  of 
the  cartridge  and  leaving  the  paper  case  more  dif- 
ficult to  remove." 

New  cases,  whether  they  burst  or  not,  scarcely 
ever  stick  in  passably  well-made  guns,  and  reloaded 
ones  rarely ;  but  when  they  do,  the  extractor  will,  in 
nine  times  out  of  ten,  withdraw  them  at  once ;  and 
if  on  this  tenth  occasion  the  brass  capsule  is  torn 
off,  the  extractor,  by  the  aid  of  a  hook  at  the  end, 
made  expressly  for  the  purpose,  will  tear  out  the 
empty  paper  instantly. 

"  Unless  the  brass  pin  which  explodes  the  cap  is 
made  very  precisely,  a  miss-fire  is  inevitable.  If 
there  is  any  corrosive  substance  upon  it  or  upon  the 
sides  of  the  hollow  in  which  it  is  to  travel,  the  ham- 
mer will  fail  to  drive  it  home  or  explode  the  cap. 
The  hammer  must  strike  it  in  exact  position,  or  the 
pin  will  bend  ;  any  extra  length  or  protrusion  of  the 
pin,  or  any  dampness  or  foulness  which  causes  it  to 
stick,  or  if  the  pin  be  nipped  in  any  way  so  as  to 
weaken  the  force  of  the  hammer,  amiss-fire  will  pro- 
bably be  the  result ;  and  the  pins  must  not  be  too 
loose,  or  they  will  drop  out  of  the  cartridges  on  any 
sudden  or  violent  exertion  on  the  part  of  the  sports- 
man." 

All  but  the  last  clause  of  this  paragraph  is  pre- 
judice stated  as  fact,  and  that  is  simply  ridiculous. 


56      MUZZLE-LOADERS   AND   BKEECH- LOADERS. 

It  happened  that  one  hammer  of  the  writer's  breech- 
loader was  broken  and  so  badly  mended  that  it  did 
not  fall  true  upon  the  pin,  and  yet  the  only  miss-fires 
he  has  ever  met  with  arose  from  his  own  neglect,  in 
omitting  to  recap  one  or  two  of  the  discharged 
cartridges  before  reloading.  The  average  of  miss-fires 
with  a  cartridge  is  asserted  by  Mr.  Eley,  the  cele- 
brated gun-maker,  to  be  one  in  a  thousand — an  asser- 
tion openly  made,  and,  as  yet,  uncontroverted,  and 
which  is  confirmed  by  the  experience  of  the  writer 
and  his  friends.  So  far  from  the  pin's  being  liable 
to  fall  out  by  any  exei'tion  whatever,  even  if  the 
sportsman  turned  acrobat  for  the  nonce,  it  is  simply 
to  be  said  that  it  cannot  be  withdrawn  with  the 
fingers,  and  requires  a  small  pair  of  pliers. 

"  If  in  drawing  out  an  unexploded  cartridge  the 
brass  end  comes  off  or  breaks  away  from  the  paper 
case,  it  will  not  be  advisable  to  use  the  cartridge  in 
that  state:  it  cannot  be  safe  to  explode  it  in  the 
barrel  of  a  breech-loading  gun ;  in  fact,  it  would  be 
almost  as  unsafe  as  a  loose  charge  of  powder.  And 
in  the  event  of  the  cap  missing  fire  in  a  breech-load- 
ing cartridge,  it  is  not  desirable  to  recap  the  car- 
tridge. "When  once  the  brass  and  the  pasteboard 
part  company,  the  power  of  retaining  the  explosive 
force  within  the  case  is  considerably  weakened,  and 
so  is  the  expulsive  force." 

On  reading  the  foregoing,  one  would  suppose  the 
author  of  such  statements  had  never  seen  a  breech- 
loader. Where  the  brass  end  breaks  away  from  the 
paper  case,  the  cap  comes  off  with  it,  and  the  car- 


MUZZLE-LOADERS  AND   BREECH-LOADERS.      £>7 

tridge  cannot  be  discharged  unless  touched  off  with 
a  lucifer  match  or  a  lighted  cigar — a  performance 
that  probably  few  persons  out  of  a  lunatic  asylum 
would  attempt.  And  as  for  recapping  a  cartridge 
that  once  missed  fire,  it  cannot  be  done,  as  the  cap 
is  inside.  What  species  of  cartridges  the  Dead  Shot 
must  have  used,  the  writer  of  this  cannot  imagine. 
In  case  of  a  miss-fire  the  cartridge  has  to  be  unloaded, 
and  may  then  be  recapped  and  reloaded  like  any 
other. 

The  writer  experimented  extensively  in  reloading 
cartridges,  using  some  a  dozen  times,  and  has  ex- 
perienced the  annoyance  of  sticking  cases  and  sepa- 
rating capsules,  and  tested  it  thoroughly;  and  he 
must  say  that  if  a  cartridge  is  loaded  over  three 
times  with  heavy  loads  it  is  apt  to  stick,  especially 
if  it  is  loaded  shortly  after  being  discharged,  and 
while  it  is  still  soft  from  the  heat.  The  cases  should 
be  left  for  several  hours  before  they  are  reloaded, 
until  they  are  dry  and  hard,  and,  if  there  is  time, 
should  be  reloaded  in  the  mould — a  block  bored 
out  to  the  exact  size,  in  which  they  fit  accurately, 
and  in  which  they  cannot  spread. 

They  rarely  stick,  however,  before  the  third  dis- 
charge, and  then  may  be  pulled  out  by  force — in 
pieces,  if  necessary,  and  thrown  away.  If,  however, 
they  cannot  be  forced  in,  and  are  torn  apart  before 
they  are  discharged,  which  never  happens  except 
after  repeated  use,  the  charge  is  wasted ;  the  powder 
should  be  at  once  poured  out,  the  wads  pushed 
aside  by  the  extractor  to  let  the  shot  escape  by  the 
3* 


58      MUZZLE-LOADERS   AND   BREECH  LOADERS. 

muzzle,  and  the  empty  case  torn  away — an  opera- 
tion implying  neither  danger  nor  difficulty.  It  is 
desirable  to  pour  the  shot  out  at  the  muzzle,  lest  a 
pellet  lodge  under  the  breech-end  of  the  gun  and 
interfere  with  its  operation. 

"  The  rapidity  with  which  a  succession  of  shots 
may  be  made  is  urged  as  one  of  the  chief  recom- 
mendations of  the  breech-loader ;  but  rapidity  of 
firing  is  seldom  desired,  and  the  barrels  may  become 
heated  to  danger.  The  sportsman's  every-day  suc- 
cess frequently  depends  on  the  range  of  his  gun,  but 
seldom  on  the  loading  and  firing  of  it." 

The  Dead  Shot  is  an  English  book ;  and  in  Eng- 
land there  are  no  rail  or  bay-snipe;  the  author, 
therefore,  has  never  whistled  a  flock  of  marble- 
winged  willet  or  golden-brown  marliu  back,  time 
after  time,  to  the  fatal  stand,  and  delivered  repeated 
discharges  into  their  thinning  ranks.  But  ducks 
abound  there ;  and  for  any  person  who  has  been 
present  at  the  early  morning  or  late  evening  flight, 
and  has  seen  and  heard  the  rush  of  wings  innume- 
rable, when  a  dozen  guns  and  men  to  load  them 
would  hardly  have  been  enough,  to  say  that  "  rapi- 
dity of  firing  is  seldom  desirable,"  is  marvellous  in- 
deed. The  italicized  portion  of  the  last  objection 
further  implies  that  Dead  Shot  has  never  used  a 
breech-loader ;  for,  while  in  the  muzzle-loader  the 
heat  of  repeated  discharges  may  be  dangerous,  in  a 
breech-loader  it  cannot,  as  paper  intervenes  between 
the  barrel  and  the  powder.  The  writer  has  fired 
his  breech-loader  until  it  was  so  hot  he  could  not 
bear  his  hand  on  it. 


MUZZLE-LOADERS  AND  BREECH-LOADERS.      59 

This  is  the  last  of  Dead  Shot's  objections,  and 
none  of  them  merit  the  attention  they  have  received, 
except  from  the  fact  that  this  book  has  been  exten- 
sively circulated  in  our  country,  where  the  merits  of 
breech-loaders  are  little  known.  The  objections  so 
manifestly  arise  from  prejudice  or  ignorance,  that 
they  need  no  contradiction  to  any  one  acquainted 
with  the  true  state  of  the  case,  and  are  worthy  of  an 
author  who,  in  his  opening,  says  :  "  He  only  can  be 
called  a  '  Dead  Shot'  who  can  bring  down  with  un- 
erring precision  an  October  or  November  partridge, 
whenever  it  offers  a  fair  chance,  i.  e.  rises  within 
certain  range  ;"  which  range  he  afterwards,  at  page 
86,  puts  at  forty  yards,  in  the  following  words: 
"  With  judicious  loading  and  a  regard  to  the  princi- 
ples of  deadly  range,  a  partridge  may  be  killed  with 
certainty  at  forty  yards."  The  partridge  resembles, 
in  many  points,  our  quail,  and  sportsmen  can  tell 
whether  quail  can  be  killed  "  with  certainty  at  forty 
yards,"  or  whether  the  best  shot  alive  can  kill  them 
every  time  at  any  distance. 

In  discussing  the  merits  of  any  new  invention, 
prejudice  is  one  of  the  strongest  grounds  of  opposi- 
tion to  overcome  ;  and  prejudice  in  favor  of  a  weapon 
that  we  have  tried  and  found  trustworthy,  that 
years  of  service  have  enabled  us  to  use  skilfully  and 
have  endeared  to  our  affections,  that  has  never,  under 
all  diversities  of  trial,  failed  to  merit  our  confidence, 
is  not  merely  a  natural  but  praiseworthy  feeling  in 
the  human  mind.  Prejudice,  when  at  last  driven  to 
a  corner  and  forced  to  give  up  as  untenable  the  ob- 


(V>      MUZZLE-LOADERS  AND   BREECH-LOADERS. 

jection  to  the  safety  or  shooting  qualities  of  the 
breech-loader,  will  say :  "I  can  shoot  ^fast  enough 
with  a  muzzle-loader." 

For  woodcock  and  quail-shooting,  rapidity  in  load- 
ing is  not  essential,  although  frequently  after  a  bevy 
of  quail  has  flushed,  one  or  two  birds  will  loiter  long 
enough  to  be  killed  by  the  reloaded  breech-loader, 
that  would  fly  before  the  muzzle-loader  could  be  re- 
charged. But  for  killing  English  snipe,  that  have  a 
habit  of  rising  one  after  another  in  tantalizing  suc- 
cession before  the  unloaded  gun  ;  for  ducks  and  rail ; 
but  above  all  for  bay-snipe,  one-half  if  not  two-thirds 
of  the  bag  depends  upon  celerity  in  loading.  Duck 
shooting  is  frequently  best  in  wet  weather,  when 
even  Eley's  "central  fire  double  water-proof"  caps 
will  not  always  insure  the  ignition  of  the  powder ; 
and  in  thick  covert  the  caps,  especially  if  they  do 
not  fit  perfectly,  will  occasionally  be  brushed  oif ; 
whereas  the  breech-loader  is  impervious  to  wet,  and 
is  not  liable  to  the  last  difficulty  ;  above  all,  where 
different  kinds  of  game  are  expected,  and  it  may  be 
important  to  change  quickly  the  load  for  ducks,  to 
buckshot  for  deer,  or  double  B's  for  geese,  the 
breech-loader  has  an  infinite  superiority. 

The  comparative  merits  of  the  two  guns  may  be 
stated  as  follows : 

For  shooting  quail  or  woodcock,  where  there  is 
no  necessity  for  great  rapidity  in  firing,  there  is 
little  advantage  in  a  breech-loader ;  and,  unless  load- 
ed cartridges  sufficient  for  the  entire  trip  are  carried, 
the  reloading  them  during  the  evening  after  a  hard 


MUZZLE-LOADERS  AND  BREECH-LOADERS.      61 

day's  fag  will  be  found  annoying.  But  for  all  the 
shore-birds,  and  even  for  English  snipe,  the  breech- 
loader has  an  immense  advantage.  It  requires  a 
quarter  of  a  drachm  of  powder  extra,  and,  on  this 
account  as  well  as  from  the  cost  of  the  cases,  is  more 
expensive  in  use ;  with  the  extra  allowance  of  pow- 
der, however,  it  shoots  stronger,  with  as  good  a  pat- 
ten and  as  little  recoil  as  its  rival ;  it  is  somewhat 
heavier  to  carry,  infinitely  safer  to  load,  rarely  misses 
fire,  and  may  be  cleaned  ere  the  tow  can  be  prepared 
for  the  muzzle-loader. 

Of  course  the  better  the  barrels,  the  better  it  will 
shoot,  to  a  greater  degree  even  than  the  old  gun ; 
and  it  is  being  daily  made  more  perfect.  The  weight 
has  already  been  reduced,  for  field-guns  even  of  No. 
1 2  bore,  to  six  pounds  ten  ounces,  which  is  as  light 
as  any  double-gun  should  be,  and  the  mechanism  of 
the  parts  is  very  fine.  Of  course  the  friction  on  the 
hinge  will  in  the  end  wear  it  loose,  but  the  expense 
of  a  new  one  is  trifling,  and  its  construction  might 
almost  be  entrusted  to  a  country  blacksmith.  The 
barrels  are  said  to  spring  slightly  at  the  discharge 
when  the  load  is  heavy,  so  that  a  piece  of  thin  paper 
pasted  across  at  the  break-off  along  the  ridge  will 
be  rent ;  and,  on  the  other  hand,  Mr.  Dougall,  of 
Glasgow,  claims  to  have  made  an  invention  called 
by  him  the  "  Lockfast,"  that  removes  this  difficulty. 
The  objection,  however,  is  not  important ;  and  Mr. 
Dougail's  invention,  by  which  the  barrels  slip  into  a 
shoulder-cut  on  the  face  of  the  breech,  is  consider- 
ably slower  in  action  than  the  other  patterns :  it  can- 


62     MUZZLE-LOADERS  AND  BREECH-LOADERS. 

not  be  made  to  spring  shut  like  the  Lefaucheux,  but 
must  be  drawn  back  into  place  by  a  short  lever. 

The  price  of  a  superior  breech-loader,  made  by 
Jeffery  of  Guildford,  several  of  whose  make  have 
been  imported  and  given  entire  satisfaction,  is  thirty 
guineas,  and  by  Dougall  of  Glasgow  about  forty 
guineas,  although  of  course  the  price  varies  to  suit 
purses;  and  some  of  the  best  London  makers,  who 
spare  neither  labor  nor  expense,  and  who  turn  out 
work  that  is  unsurpassable,  charge  double  these 
sums.  It  has  even  been  asserted  that  Purdey  has 
received  over  a  hundred  pounds  for  a  breech-loader ; 
but  this  is  merely  a  fancy  price,  and  makes  the  gun 
neither  safer  nor  more  useful  than  one  at  a  third  of 
the  cost. 

A  breech-loader  to  shoot  creditably  must  be  well 
made,  and  consequently  is  expensive ;  and  at  the 
best  an  extra  quarter  drachm  of  powder  must  be  al- 
lowed. This  is  supposed  to  be  required  by  the 
yielding  of  the  comparatively  soft  material  of  the 
cartridge-case,  which  must  fit  rather  loosely  in  the 
chamber  of  the  barrel  to  allow  of  its  ready  insertion, 
and  any  defect  of  workmanship  increases  this  diffi- 
culty materially. 

There  are  several  descriptions  of  cartridge — those 
made  by  Eley  of  England  or  Gevelot  of  France 
being  the  best.  Eley  manufactures  two  qualities  at 
different  prices,  and  those  persons  who  object  to  re- 
loading their  cartridges,  may  purchase  the  lower- 
priced  article,  which  is  not  intended  to  be  used  more 
than  once.  The  first  quality  cost  three  pounds  a 


MUZZLE-LOADEES  AND  BREECH-LOADERS.      63 

thousand,  unloaded  but  capped ;  or  they  may  be  pur- 
chased at  a  proportionally  higher  price  loaded, 
ready  for  instant  use,  as  they  can  be  transported 
even  across  the  ocean  without  material  risk.  The 
brown-paper  cartridges  of  Chaudun  are  also  good, 
but  not  quite  so  fine  an  article  as  Eley's  ;  they  may 
be  reloaded,  however,  several  times.  In  carrying 
the  loaded  cartridges,  it  is  natural  to  suppose  that 
there  would  be  danger  of  their  exploding  in  conse- 
quence of  a  sudden  jar,  and  they  are  generally  pack- 
ed in  sawdust  to  avoid  this  risk,  but  experience  has 
proved  that  the  danger  is  slight ;  generally  speaking, 
they  cannot  be  so  discharged,  and  there  is  but  one 
case  reported  where  it  happened ;  in  this  instance,  a 
railway  porter  in  England  let  fall  a  large  box  of  them, 
when  a  single  cartridge  exploded,  without  doing  any 
damage  or  discharging  the  others. 

There  are,  properly  speaking,  no  gun-makers  in 
America ;  a  few  workmen  import  English  locks, 
stocks,  and  barrels,  and  fitting  them  together,  stamp 
them  with  their  names;  but  I  know  of  no  establish- 
ment where  the  smallest  portion  even  of  the  fowling- 
piece  is  manufactured.  It  is  a  matter  of  great  diffi- 
culty to  get  any  good  work  done,  and  the  simplest 
repairs  are  generally  bungled  in  our  best  shops  in  a 
way  to  disgrace  the  trade  and  disgust  the  owner ; 
as  for  having  a  gun  made,  we  have  not  advanced 
the  first  step  towards  it,  not  even  having  a  compul- 
sory proof-stamp. 

It  is  hardly  necessary  to  add  that  breech-loaders 
must  be  imported.  They  and  their  equipment  are 


64      MUZZLE-LOADERS  AND  BREECH-LOADERS. 

kept  for  sale  at  our  principal  metropolitan  shops, 
and  their  mechanism  is  so  simple  that  any  accident 
to  it  can  be  repaired  ;  but  as  they  are  not  in  general 
demand,  really  fine  articles  are  difficult  to  find,  and 
had  better  be  purchased  specially  on  the  other  side. 
This  can  be  done  by  the  party  himself,  by  sending 
to  any  European  maker  the  length  from  the  fore- 
most trigger  to  the  heel-plate,  and  the  drop  from 
the  line  of  the  barrels  to  the  cheek-piece  of  the 
stock — that  exist  in  his  present  gun,  and  which  he 
wishes  to  retain.  Or  any  of  our  dealers  will  take 
the  measure  of  his  gun,  and  import  him  a  breech- 
loader that  will  "  come  up"  like  the  old  gun  he  has 
handled  for  years.  • 

Much  space  has  been  devoted  to  the  breech-load- 
er, for  the  reason  that  the  writer,  while  recognising 
its  adaptability  to  general  use,  has  considered  it 
specially  advantageous  for  the  pursuit  of  the  game 
of  which  this  work  particularly  treats ;  that  it  has 
defects  is  not  denied,  but  these  are  vastly  overborne 
by  its  advantages.  Prejudice  is  strong  ;  for  twenty 
years  the  Lefaucheux  has  been  in  common  use 
among  the  French,  who  had  satisfied  themselves  of 
its  superiority;  and  it  required  that  time  for  an  in- 
vention so  simple  and  easy  to  test,  to  cross  the  nar- 
row channel  between  the  continent  and  England. 
Americans  are  always  ready  to  try  a  new  discovery 
and  judge  of  its  advantages  by  their  own  experience  ; 
so  that  it  is  not  probable  that  the  breech-loader  will  be 
as  long  in  crossing  the  "  broad  Atlantic,"  and  locat- 
ing itself  securely  on  our  shores.  .  - 


MUZZLE-LOADERS  AND  BREECH-LOADERS.      65 

There  are  now  some  twenty  or  thirty  of  these 
guns  in  use  among  our  sportsmen,  and  they  have 
generally  given  satisfaction.  Of  course  it  requires  a 
short  time  to  accustom  oneself  to  a  new  implement ; 
arid  a  cheap  piece,  which  it  is  natural  to  purchase 
on  an  experiment,  is  a  poor  affair,  and  especially  so 
with  a  breech-loader ;  but  the  invention  is  steadily 
winning  friends.  In  England,  where  the  nature  of 
the  game  is  not  so  well  calculated  for  its  use  as  here, 
the  highest  authority  on  sporting  gunnery,  the  edi- 
tor of  the  Field,  who  writes  under  the  name  of 
Stonehenge,  speaking  of  the  two  guns,  says :  "  In- 
deed, so  near  is  the  performance  of  the  two,  that  we 
cannot  think  for  a  moment  that  for  general  purposes 
there  can  be  a  doubt  of  the  superiority  of  the  breech- 
loader, when  quickness  of  loading,  safety,  and  clean- 
liness are  taken  into  consideration." 


CHAPTER  IE. 

BAY-SNIPE   SHOOTING. 

THE  yarious  writers  on  the  different  kinds  of  sport 
in  our  country  have  generally  devoted  their  atten- 
tion to  upland  shooting ;  to  the  quail,  woodcock, 
English  snipe,  ruffed  grouse  of  the  hills,  dales,  and 
meadows,  to  the  prairie-chicken  of  the  far  west,  or  to 
the  larger  game — the  ducks,  geese,  and  swans  of  our 
coast;  and  the  few  suggestions  to  be  found  in 
Frank  Forester's  Field  /Sports,  or  Lewis's  Ame- 
rican Sportsman,  are  of  little  assistance  in  discuss- 
ing the  mode  of  capture  of  their  less  fashionable 
and  less  marketable  brethren  called  bay-snipe. 
Having  no  guides  to  aid  me  but  my  own  experience, 
and  differing  frequently  in  my  views  from  the  opi- 
nions expressed  by  the  scientific  ornithologists,  I 
approach  the  consideration  of  this  subject  with  diffi- 
dence ;  and  for  the  many  errors  that  a  pioneer  must 
inevitably  commit,  I  crave  the  indulgence  of  the 
public. 

The  birds  that  are  shot  along  our  shores  upon  the 
sand-bars  or  oroad  salt  meadows,  or  even  upon  the 
adjoining  fields  of  upland,  are  among  sportsmen 
termed  bay-birds  or  bay-snipe;  and  although  includ- 
ing several  distinct  varieties,  present  a  general 
similarity  in  manners  and  habits.  They  are  ordi- 


BAY-SNIPE   SHOOTING.  67 

narily  killed  by  stratagem  over  decoys,  and  not  by 
open  pursuit ;  different  varieties  frequent  the  same 
locality,  so  that  many  species  will  be  collected  in  the 
same  bag ;  they  are  for  the  most  part,  except  the 
upland  birds,  tough  and  sedgy,  and  at  times  hardly 
fit  for  the  table  ;  and  they  arrive  and  may  be  killed 
at  certain  periods  in  vast  numbers. 

Although  despised  by  the  upland  sportsman,  who 
regards  the  use  of  the  dog  as  essential  to  the  pure 
exercise  of  his  art ;  and  by  the  pot-hunter,  because 
they  do  not  generally  bring  high  prices  in  market ; — 
to  the  genuine  lover  of  nature  and  the  gun  they  fur- 
nish splendid  sport,  requiring,  if  not  as  high  a  de- 
gree of  skill  as  may  be  needed  to  cut  down  a  quail 
in  the  dense  coverts,  at  least  as  many  fine  qualities 
in  the  sportsman,  and  as  thorough  a  knowledge  of 
their  habits  as  any  other  bird.  In  upland  shooting 
the  dog  does  the  largest  part  of  the  work,  and  inva- 
riably deserves  the  credit  for  a  super-excellent  bag ; 
and  truly  glorious  is  it  to  follow  the  dog  that  can 
make  that  bag,  and  wonderful  to  watch  his  powers ; — 
but  in  bay-snipe  shooting  there  is  no  trusty  dog  to 
look  to,  who  can  retrieve  by  his  superiority  his  mas- 
ter's bluriderings.  The  man  relies  upon  himself,  and 
himself  alone  ;  he  it  is  that  must,  with  quick  observant 
eye,  catch  the  faint  outline  of  the  distant  flock,  and 
with  sharp  ear  distinguish  the  first  audible  call ;  his 
experience  must  determine  the  nature  of  the  birds, 
his  powers  of  imitation  bring  them  within  gun-shot, 
and  his  skill  drop  them  advantageously  from  the 
crowded  flock.  To  excel  in  all  this  requires  long 


68  BAY-SNIPE  SHOOTING. 

patience,  much  experience,  and  great  qualities  of 
mind  and  body ;  and  few  are  the  sportsmen  who  ever 
deserve  the  compliment  paid  by  old  Paulus  Enos  of 
Quogue,  when  he  remarked,  "  Colonel  P.  is  a  werry 
destructive  man — a  werry  destructive  man  in  a  flock 
of  birds." 

It  is  true  that  quail-shooting  is  almost  a  certainty ; 
and  day  after  day  of  fair  weather,  with  well-trained 
animals  and  good  marksmen,  will  produce  nearly  the 
same  average,  so  that  an  entire  failure  will  be  almost 
impossible ;  whereas,  with  bay-snipe  everything,  in 
the  first  instance,  depends  upon  the  flight ;  and  if 
there  are  no  birds,  the  result  must  be  a  total  blank  ; 
but  when  the  season  is  propitious — and  this  can  be 
determined  by  the  experienced  sportsman  Avith  tole- 
rable accuracy — the  sport  is  prodigious,  and  the 
number  of  shots  enormous. 

Nor  is  it  so  easy  to  kill  the  gentle  game  that 
approaches  the  decoys  with  such  entire  confidence, 
and  often  at  so  moderate  a  pace.  The  upland  sports- 
man, who  can  cover  the  quail  through  the  thick 
scrub-oaks,  or  the  woodcock  in  the  dense  foliage  of 
the  shady  swamp,  and  send  his  charge  after  them 
with  astonishing  precision,  and  who  will  expect  easy 
work  with  the  bay-snipe,  will  find  himself  wonder- 
fully bothered  by  their  curious  motions  and  irre- 
gular flight,  till  he  has  acquired  the  knack  of  anti- 
cipating their  intentions.  Pie  will  learn  that  their 
speed  is  irregular ;  that  while  at  times  they  will 
hang  almost  motionless  in  the  air,  at  others  they  will 
dart  past  at  the  rate  of  a  hundred  miles  nn  hour; 


BAY-SNIPE   SHOOTING.  69 

that  although  usually  flying  steadily,  they  will  fre- 
quently flirt  and  twist  as  unexpectedly  as  an  English 
snipe  ;  and  that  often  they  will  either  suddenly  drop 
from  before  his  gun  and  alight,  or,  taking  the  alarm, 
will  whirl  fifty  feet  into  the  air ;  and  when  one 
barrel  has  been  discharged  into  a  flock,  the  rest  will 
"  skiver "  so  as  to  puzzle  even  the  best  marksman. 
It  is  not  enough  to  kill  one  bird  with  each  bar- 
rel from  a  flock,  as  in  quail-shooting,  but  a  num- 
ber must  be  selected  at  the  moment  they  cross  one 
another,  so  that  several  may  be  secured  with  each 
barrel;  to  do  this  will  require  much  practice  and 
entail  many  total  misses,  and  is  rarely  thoroughly 
learned  by  the  upland  sportsman.  It  will  not  answer 
to  follow  the  example  of  an  enthusiastic  French  gen- 
tleman, whom  I  once  left  in  the  stand  while  I  went 
to  the  house  for  dinner  ;  and  who,  on  my  return,  in 
an  excited  way  remarked  : 

"  Ah !  I  have  vun  beautifool  shot,  I  make  ze  lovely 
shot ;  tree  big  birds  come  along — vat  you  call  him  ?" 

"  Willet  ?"  I  suggested. 

"  No,  no  ;  ze  big  brown  birds." 

"  Sickle-bills !" 
'"  No,  not  ze  seeckle-bills." 

"  Jacks  ?" 

"  No,  no ;  not  ze  jacks." 

"  Marlin !» 

"  Yes,  yes  ;  tree  big  marlin  come  close  by,  right 
ovair  ze  stool ;  zay  all  fly  near  ze  other ;  I  am  sure 
to  kill  zem,  it  was  such  beautifool  shot.  I  take  ze 
gun  and  rniss  zem  all !" 


70  BAY-SNIPE   SHOOTING. 

Moreover,  the  excitement  of  a  rapid  flight  is 
intense  ;  the  birds  arrive  much  faster  than  the  muz- 
zle-loader can  be  charged,  andaflock  will  hover  round 
the  stand,  returning  again  and  again  in  the  most 
bewildering  manner ;  as  there  are  usually  two  sports- 
men in  each  stand,  and  the  stands  are  often  in  sight 
of  one  another,  a  sense  of  rivalry  is  added  to  the 
other  difficulties  of  the  position. 

As  the  birds  approach,  great  judgment  is  required 
in  selecting  the  proper  time  to  fire,  both  as  regards 
the  condition  of  the  flock  and  their  position  relative 
to  the  associate  sportsman  ;  they  must  be  allowed 
to  come  well  within  the  reach  of  both,  and  yet  be 
taken  when  they  are  most  together,  and  not  allowed 
to  pass  so  far  as  to  endanger  the  success  of  the  se- 
cond barrel.  Each  sportsman  must  invariably  fire 
at  his  side  of  the  flock,  and  wait  till  it  is  well  abreast 
of  him,  and  never  either  shoot  over  his  neighbor's 
corner  of  the  stand  or  at  his  portion  of  the  birds. 
Nothing  is  so  disagreeable  as  to'  have  a  gun  dis- 
charged close  to  one's  head,  except  perhaps  to  have 
it  discharged  at  one's  head ;  the  noise  and  jar  pro- 
duce painful  and  dangerous  effects,  and  unsettle  a 
person's  nerves  for  hours.  No  man  who  will  fire 
by  his  associate  without  presenting  his  gun  well  be- 
fore him,  can  know  the  first  principles  of  gunnery 
— or  who,  if  knowing  them,  wilfully  disregards  their 
effects,  is  a  fit  companion.  The  concussion  from  the 
explosion  is  exceedingly  unpleasant,  even  if  the  gun 
is  several  feet  off,  and  will  produce  a  slight  deafness. 

Of  the  number  of  birds  which  can  be  bagged,  it 


BAY-SNIPE  SHOOTING.  71 

is  hardly  possible  to  speak  within  bounds — more  than 
a  hundred  having  been  killed  at  one  shot — but  pro- 
bably a  hundred  separate  shots  are  occasionally  fired 
by  each  sportsman  in  the  course  of  a  day,  and  with 
the  breech-loader  even  more.  There  have  been  times 
when  twenty-five  pounds  of  shot  have  been  expend- 
ed by  one  gun,  but  those  days  exist  no  longer,  and 
it  is  rare  to  use  more  than  five  pounds  where  the 
load  does  not  exceed  an  ounce  and  a  quarter. 

The  uncertainty  of  the  flight  is  the  principal  draw- 
back to  bay-snipe  shooting,  although  experience  can 
in  a  measure  overcome  the  difficulty;  but  to  the 
citizen  confined  to  certain  days,  a  selection  of  time 
is  an  impossibility.  The  height  of  the  season  ex- 
tends from  August  15th  to  the  25th  for  the  bay- 
birds  proper ;  and  from  August  28th  to  September 
8th,  for  golden  plover ;  and  if  a  north-easterly  storm 
should  occur  at  this  period,  it  will  be  followed  by  an 
immense  flight. 

Dry  seasons  are  never  good,  and  so  long  as  the 
weather  remains  warm  the  birds  will  tarry  in  their 
northern  latitudes ;  when  the  meadows  are  parched 
for  want  of  rain,  they  become  too  hard  for  the  birds 
to  perforate,  and  the  latter,  being  unable  to  feed, 
must  migrate  elsewhere;  but  when  they  are  soft 
with  moisture,  the  older  snipe  that  have  left  their 
progeny  at  the  far  north,  linger  on  the  feeding- 
grounds  and  wait  for  the  latter  to  arrive.  They 
seem  to  make  it  a  point  to  send  back  portions  of 
their  number  from  time  to  time  to  look  after  the  young ; 
and  on  such  occasions,  both  the  messengers  and  the 


72  BAY-SNIPE  SHOOTING 

young  stool  admirably.  Thus  flocks  of  old  birds 
will  frequently  be  seen  wending  their  way  towards 
the  north,  while  the  main  flight  is  directed  south- 
ward ;  and  these  flocks  will  invariably  come  to  the 
decoys,  although  the  main  body  will  take  no  notice 
of  them. 

Of  course  when  the  meadows  are  too  parched  to 
furnish  food,  the  birds  cannot  return  on  their  tracks, 
but  must  continue  their  flight  to  more  hospitable 
shores,  and  in  this  way  one  of  the  best  chances  for 
good  shooting  is  lost.  There  are  probnbty,  in  addi- 
tion, many  ease-loving  gluttons  among  the  troupe, who 
if  they  find  the  feeding-grounds  well  supplied,  stop 
for  a  time  to  enjoy  the  luxury  after  their  long  absti- 
nence in  the  inclement  north  ;  and  in  passing  to  and 
from  their  favorite  spots,  are  said  by  the  native 
human  species  to  have  established  "  a  trade"  to  those 
places.  These  birds,  of  course,  wherever  they  see  a 
flock  apparently  partaking  of  a  plentiful  repast,  na- , 
turally  pause  to  obtain  their  share,  and  thus  fall  a 
prey  to  their  appetites. 

Bay-snipe  fly  during  the  day  and  night  high  up 
in  the  heavens,  or  close  to  the  earth,  in  rain  or  shine, 
but  especially  during  a  cold  north-easterly  storm, 
which,  from  its  direction,  is  favorable  to  their  south- 
erly migrations  ;  and  they  have  a  vigor  of  wing  that 
enables  them  to  traverse  immense  distances  in  a 
short  time.  In  proceeding  with  the  wind,  it  is  usu- 
ally at  a  considerable  distance  from  the  earth  ;  but 
when  facing  an  adverse  current,  they  keep  close  to 
the  surface,  and  consequently  are  apt  to  be  attracted 


BAY-SNIPE   SHOOTING.  73 

by  the  stools.  They  do  not  move  much  during 
foggy  weather,  for  the  simple  reason  that  they  can- 
not see  their  course,  but  do  not  seem  to  be  troubled 
by  a  rain.  Although  clear — that  is  to  say,  not  rainy 
— weather  is  preferable- on  many  accounts,  for  their 
pursuit,  good  sport  is  frequently  had,  especially  on 
Long  Island,  during  a  rain. 

Their  line  of  flight  is  peculiar.  Except  the  plover, 
they  do  not  follow  the  entire  coast,  and  are  not 
found  to  the  eastward  of  Massachusetts,  but  appear 
to  strike  directly  from  their  northern  haunts  to  Cape 
Cod,  where,  in  the  neighborhood  of  Barnstable, 
there  was  in  former  times  excellent  shooting ;  thence 
they  proceed  to  Point  Judith,  or  even  somewhat  to 
the  westward  of  it,  and  then  they  cross  Long  Island 
Sound,  rarely  much  to  the  eastward  of  Quogue  ;  from 
Long  Island  they  make  one  flight  to  Squan  Beach, 
and  so  on  along  the  bays  and  lagoons  of  the  south- 
ern coast  to  the  Equator,  or  perhaps  beyond  it  to 
the  Antarctic  region.  The  plovers  follow  the  coast 
more  closely,  and  strike  the  easternmost  end  of  Long 
Island  in  their  career. 

It  is  very  remarkable,  that  these  birds  which 
generally  pass  northward  in  May,  and  require 
only  three  months  for  incubation  and  growth  of 
young,  live  the  other  nine  months  apparently  in  com- 
parative idleness  at  the  south.  This  peculiarity  has 
led  to  the  suggestion  that  they  may  travel  to  the 
Antarctic  ocean  during  their  absence  from  the  north 
— which,  although  probable,  is  as  yet,  from  our  entire 
ignorance  of  their  habits,  a  mere  suggestion. 
4 


74  BAY-SNIPE  SHOOTING. 

During  the  northward  flight  in  May,  there  is  often 
good  sport,  but  the  time  is  more  uncertain  than  in 
August;  nor  do  the  birds,  which  are  old  and  wary, 
stool  quite  so  well  as  on  their  return.  In  the  spring 
they  pursue  the  same  course  as  in  the  autumnal 
flight ;  which,  although  it  is  the  most  direct  line,  and 
follows  the  principal  expanse  of  salt  meadow,  neces- 
sitates considerable  journeys  far  out  at  sea.  But  it 
is  doubtless  the  fact  that  these  birds,  in  consequence 
of  their  stretch  and  power  of  wing,  could  sustain  an 
unbroken  flight  from  north  to  south,  and  accomplish 
the  distance  in  a  wonderfully  short  space  of  time. 
Unabated  speed  of  one  hundred  miles  an  hour  is 
equivalent  to  twenty-four  hundred  miles  in  a  day, 
and  portions  of  the  flock  may  not  pause  between 
Labrador  and  the  swamps  of  Florida. 

When  the  wind  is  strong  and  continuous  from  the 
westward,  it  is  supposed  that  they  pass  far  out  to 
sea ;  and  during  these  seasons  there  will  be  no  flight 
of  birds  either  at  Long  Island  or  on  the  Jersey  coast. 
At  such  periods  sportsmen  often  conclude  that  the 
entire  race  has  been  destroyed,  till  the  easterly  winds 
and  soaking  rains  of  the  following  year,  bring  them 
back  more  numerous  than  ever.  As  they  must 
migrate,  and  are  not  to  be  found  anywhere  on  the 
land,  it  is  clear  that  they  must  have  the  power  of 
completing  their  journey  in  one  unbroken  flight. 

The  principal  varieties  are  the  sickle-bill,  jack-cur- 
lew, the  marlin  and  ring-tailed  marlin,  the  willet,  the 
black-breast  or  bull-head,  and  golden  plovers,  the 
yelper,  yellow-legs,  robin-snipe,  dowitchers,  brant- 


BAY-SNIPE  SHOOTING.  75 

bird,  and  krieker.  The  upland  or  grass-plover  is  pur- 
sued in  a  different  manner,  and  the  smaller  birds  are 
not  pursued  for  sport  at  all. 

The  sickle-bills,  so  named  after  the  beautiful  sweep- 
ing curve  of  the  bill,  which  has  been  known  to  mea- 
sure eleven  inches  in  length,  are  the  largest  of  them 
all.  They  are  colored  much  like  a  marlin,  have  a 
beautiful  bright  eye,  a  short  reed-like  call,  and  a 
steady,  dignified  flight.  In  stretch  of  wings  they 
exceed  three  feet,  and  nothing  can  be  more  impres- 
sive than  the  approach  of  a  large  flock  of  these  birds 
with  wings  and  bills  extended  and  legs  dropped  in 
preparation  for  alighting  amid  the  stools. 

They  are  often  shy  in  the  first  instance,  but  as 
soon  as  one  of  their  number  is  killed,  they  return 
again  and  again  to  the  fatal  spot — apparently  in  blind 
confidence  that  he  must  have  alighted  instead  of 
fallen,  or  out  of  brotherly  anxiety  for  his  fate.  I 
have  on  several  occasions  attracted  a  large  flock  that 
was  hesitating  whether  to  approach  or  not,  and 
almost  resolving  to  depart,  by  killing  one  of  their 
number  that  incautiously  ventured  within  long 
range — for  immediately  on  seeing  him  fall,  they 
approached,  in  spite  of  the  report,  with  full  con- 
fidence. 

They  are  easily  killed,  by  reason  of  their  mode- 
rate speed  and  customary  steadiness,  although  they 
can  dart  rapidly  when  alarmed,  and  will  often,  like 
all  the  bay-birds,  carry  off  much  shot.  Their  flesh 
is  tough,  very  dark,  and  scarcely  fit  for  the  table, 
except  perhaps  when  they  first  come  on  from  feed- 


76  BAY-SNIPE  SHOOTING. 

ing  on  the  more  dainty  repasts  furnished  by  the  up- 
lands of  Labrador. 

The  jack-curlew  is  a  still  more  wary  bird,  and  al- 
though he  comes  to  the  stools,  rarely  pauses  over 
them,  and  never  returns  after  being  once  fired  at. 
He  is  seldom  seen  in  large  flocks,  and  flies  rapidly 
and  steadily.  His  cry  is  longer  than  that  of  the 
sickle-bill,  and,  like  it,  easy  to  imitate.  From  his 
wariness  and  rarity  he  is  regarded  as  the  greatest 
prize  of  the  sportsman,  although  his  flesh  is  little 
better  than  that  of  the  sickle-bill. 

The  marlin  is  quite  common,  very  gentle,  stools 
admirably,  and  goes  in  large  flocks.  In  color  it  is 
similar  to  the  sickle-bill,  but  it  is  much  smaller  and  has 
a  straight,  if  not  slightly  recurved,  bill.  It  is  attracted 
by  the  same  call,  and  is  equally  tough  and  sedgy  as 
food.  The  ring-tailed  marlin  differs  from  it  entirely 
in  color,  resembling  a  willet — except  that  its  wings 
are  darker,  and  its  tail  black  with  a  white  ring — but 
it  has  the  long,  straight,  marlin  bill.  It  is  a  rare  bird, 
seldom  collects  in  large  flocks,  and  is  often  fat  and 
tolerable  eating.  It  does  not  stool  as  well  as  its 
plainer  brother,  but  from  its  scarcity  and  higher 
gastronomic  claims,  it  is  more  highly  prized. 

The  willet  is  greyish  in  general  color,  with  a  white 
belly  and  broad  bands  of  black  and  white  across  its 
wings.  It  has  a  loud,  shrill  shriek,  stools  well,  flies 
steadily,  congregates  in  large  flocks,  and  when  fat  is 
quite  eatable.  It  often  associates  with  marlins  and 
sickle-bills,  where  its  light  colors  make  a  beautiful 
contrast. 


BAY-SNIPE  SHOOTING.  77 

The  last  four  varieties  are  nearly  similar  in  size 
and  greatly  exceed  the  following,  but  are  far  less 
desirable  in  an  epicurean  point  of  view. 

The  golden  plover  is  one  of  the  finest  birds  that 
flies  ;  it  associates  in  flocks  of  a  thousand,  stools  well, 
is  extremely  fat,  is  delicious  on  the  table,  and  has  a 
peculiarly  musical  whistle.  It  frequents  the  uplands, 
and  feeds  on  grasshoppers.  Its  back  is  marked  with 
a  greenish  red  that  faintly  resembles  gold,  and  gives 
rise  to  its  name.  The  young  are  quite  different  in 
plumage. 

The  black-breast  or  bull-head  is  a  shy  and  rather 
solitary  bird — although  it  occasionally  collects  in 
large  flocks — but  it  is  quite  fat,  and  frequently  killed 
in  the  salt  marshes  over  the  stools  used  for  the  ordi- 
nary bay-birds. 

The  yelper  has  a  strong,  rapid,  and  often  irregular 
flight,  and  a  loud  cry.  It  stools  well,  but  escapes 
rapidly  as  soon  as  shot  at,  darting  from  side  to  side 
in  a  confusing  way,  and  returns  less  confidently  than 
the  willet  or  marlin.  It  pursues  its  course  generally 
high  in  the  clouds,  whence  it  will  drop  like  a  stone 
when  coming  to  the  stools.  On  Long  Island  it  goes 
by  the  name  of  big  yellow-legs  ;  its  call  can  be  heard 
at  an  immense  distance,  and  is  repeated  continually 
as  it  flies.  Gastronomically  considered,  it  is  passa- 
ble, and,  when  fat,  really  excellent. 

The  yellow-legs,  or  little  yellow-legs,  as  it  is 
termed  on  Long  Island,  is  similar  in  appearance  to 
the  yelper,  but  has  a  softer  and  more  flute-like  note, 
and  congregates  in  larger  flocks.  It  stools  admi- 


78  BAY-SNIPE  SHOOTING. 

rably,  and  is  killed  in  immense  numbers.  Its  flight 
is  rapid  and  irregular,  especially  when  it  is  fright- 
ened ;  and,  as  food,  it  ranks  with  the  yelper. 

The  brant-bird  is  a  beautiful  bird,  and  stools  well ; 
it  rarely  consorts  in  large  flocks,  and  is  quite  accept- 
able on  the  table. 

The  robin-snipe  is  a  graceful,  beautiful,  and  deli- 
cious bird;  its  favorite  localities  are  the  meadow- 
islands  of  the  salt  bays  and  lagoons ;  its  flight  is 
steady,  and  it  does  not  collect  in  such  immense  flocks 
as  the  last  named  variety.  Its  whistle  consists  of 
two  clear  shrill  notes,  by  which,  it  is  readily  attracted ; 
and  its  predominant  colors  are  grey  on  the  back  and 
red  on  the  breast. 

The  dowitcher,  which  is  considered  ornithologi- 
cally  as  the  only  true  snipe  of  them  all,  has  the 
habits  of  the  sandpiper  and  the  distinctive  attributes 
of  the  scolopax  /  it  is  abundant,  extremely  gentle, 
and  excellent  eating.  It  stools  admirably,  coming 
to  any  whistle  whatever ;  and  although  it  can  skiver 
when  alarmed,  it  usually  flies  steadily.  It  associates 
with  the  smaller  birds. 

The  krieker  feeds  on  the  meadows,  remains  till 
late  in  October,  becomes  extremely  fat,  and  is  an 
epicurean  delicacy  ;  it  utters  a  creaking  cry,  but  will 
not  stool  at  all.  It  also  flies  with  the  smaller  snipe. 

Having  thus  mentioned  the  peculiar  distinctive 
qualities  and  characteristics  of  each  bird,  of  which  a 
fuller  description  will  be  given  in  another  place,  we 
will  now  pass  to  a  consideration  of  the  best  mode  of 
their  pursuit.  This  being  by  stratagem,  the  more 


BAY-SNIPE  SHOOTING.  79 

thorough  the  deception,  the  more  favorable  will  be 
the  result ;  and  although  they  can  frequently  be 
attracted  by  an  accurate  imitation  of  their  call 
within  reach  of  their  destroyer,  crouched  in  the  open 
field  and  unaided  by  decoys,  they  will  approach 
much  better  to  the  concealed  sportsman  and  well 
made  stools.  A  stand  is  usually  erected  near  some 
pond  or  bar  where  the  birds  are  in  the  habit  of 
alighting — and  this  can  be  built  in  half  an  hour  of 
bushes  or  reeds — high  enough  to  conceal  the  sports- 
man comfortably  seated  in  his  arm-chair ;  and  as  the 
grass  has  become  by  the  latter  part  of  August  a  dull 
yellowish  green,  he  may  even  shelter  himself  from 
the  sun's  rays  by  a  brown  cotton  nmbrella,  if  he  be 
delicate  or  ease-loving.  His  clothes  should  assi- 
milate to  the  color  of  the  landscape,  and  be  as  cool  as 
possible — for  the  temperature  is  often  oppressively 
hot ;  and  a  waterproof  should  always  be  at  hand  in 
case  of  rain,  to  cover,  not  so  much  the  sportsman 
as  his  gun  and  ammunition,  which  may  be  seri- 
ously injured  by  dampness  and  salt  air  combin- 
ed. 

If  it  is  impracticable  to  build  a  stand,  and  the 
locality  is  sandy,  a  hole  may  be  dug,  with  the  exca- 
vated sand  banked  around  it,  and  the  sportsman  may 
deposit  himself  upon  his  Mackintosh  at  the  bottom. 
However,  to  one  unaccustomed  to  the  posture,  it  is 
difficult  to  rise  and  ^hoot  from  such  a  position,  and  a 
comfortable  seat  is  far  preferable ;  and  besides,  the 
mosquitoes  are  thicker  near  the  earth ;  the  breeze  has 
less  effect  and  the  sun  more. 


80  BAY-SNIPE  SHOOTING. 

The  stools  should  be  so  placed  that  they  can  be 
readily  seen  from  the  line  of  flight,  not  too  high 
above  the  water,  and  the  farthest  not  more  than 
thirty-five  yards  from  the  shooter.  If  too  near  a 
bank,  they  will  be  confounded  with  the  grass,  and  be 
invisible  even  to  the  keen  eye  of  the  snipe.  They 
should  be  scattered  sufficiently  to  allow  each  one  to 
be  distinct,  and  must  be  headed  in  different  direc- 
tions, so  that  some  may  present  their  broadsides  to 
every  quarter  of  the  heavens.  They  should  tail 
down  wind,  in  a  measure,  from  the  stand,  as  the  birds, 
no  matter  what  direction  they  come  from,  head  up 
wind  in  order  to  alight,  and  will  make  a  circle  to  do 
so.  In  this  way  they  reach  the  lower  end  of  the 
imitation  flock  first,  and  are  led  safely  close  to  the 
sportsman,  giving  him  an  admirable  opportunity  to 
make  his  selection  from  their  ranks. 

As  the  tide  varies  according  to  the  wind  and  moon, 
and  will  often  cover  with  several  feet  of  water  places 
usually  dry,  it  is  well  to  have  two  sets  of  sticks — one 
set  for  deep  water  much  longer  than  those  for  ordi- 
nary use ;  otherwise,  it  will  occasionally  be  found  im- 
possible to  set  out  the  stools  at  all,  or  they  will  stand 
so  high  above  the  ground  as  to  resemble  bean-poles 
more  than  birds. 

It  is  customary  to  have  in  the  flock,  which  should 
not  be  less  than  forty,  imitations  of  the  different 
species— some  being  brown  to  represent  marlin, 
others  grey,  with  white  breasts  and  a  white  and 
black  streak  over  the  tail  to  stand  for  willet,  and  so 
on ;  but  a  more  important  point  is  to  have  them  large. 


BAY-SNIPE   SHOOTING.  81 

Small  stools  cannot  be  seen  far  enough  to  attract  a 
yelper  sailing  amid  the  clouds,  or  a  marlin  sweeping 
along  the  distant  horizon  ;  and  although  it  is  pretty 
and  appropriate  to  have  them  of  suitable  colors,  size 
is  more  necessary.  A  sickle-bill  is  a  large  bird,  and 
I  have  seen  one  tethered  among  the  stools  towering 
above  them,  so  that  the  imitations  looked  puny  by 
comparison,  although  larger  than  they  were  usually 
made.  The  word  stool  is  derived  from  the  Danish 
stoel,  and  signifies  something  set  up  on  less  than 
four  legs,  but  of  the  mode  or  reason  ol  its  adoption 
we  have  no  record ;  it  is  in  universal  use,  to  the  ex- 
clusion of  the  more  elegant  and  appropriate  term, 
decoy,  which  is  confined  to  imitation  of  wild  fowl. 
Stools  are  ordinarily  made  of  wood,  and  occasionally 
painted  with  great  artistic  care  and  skill ;  and  although 
a  rough  affair,  coarsely  daubed,  seems  often  to  an- 
swer nearly  as  well,  there  are  times  when  the  birds, 
rendered  wild  by  many  hair-breadth  escapes,  look 
sharply  ere  they  draw  near,  and  will  not  approach 
unsightly  blocks  of  wood,  no  matter  how  sweetly 
they  seem  to  whistle. 

As  wooden  stools  take  up  much  room  and  are 
troublesome  to  carry  for  any  distance,  tin  ones  have 
been  made  that  will  pack  together  in  a  small  space. 
By  heading  these,  different  ways,  they  present  a  good 
view  to  the  snipe,  except  when  the  latter  are  high 
in  air,  from  which  position  they  are  invisible,  To 
remedy  this  defect,  it  has  been  suggested  that  a  strip 
of  tin  of  the  width  of  the  body  may  be  soldered 
along  the  upper  edge ;  and  thus,  while  they  pack 
4* 


82  BAY-SNIPE  SHOOTING. 

snugly,  a  section  of  the  object  is  presented  in  every 
direction. 

Wooden  stools  are  decidedly  the  best,  especially 
where  it  is  desirable  that  the  birds  should  alight, 
and  are  in  general  use.  They  are  made  of  pine,  and 
painted  the  distinctive  colors  of  their  prototypes ; 
thus  sickle-bills,  marlin,  and  jacks,  are  all  brown  with 
dark  spots  on  the  back  and  wings  ;  willet,  as  hereto- 
fore described;  yellow-legs,  dark  mottled  grey  on 
the  back  and  wings,  and  white  beneath ;  dowitchers 
brown  on  the  back  and  wings,  and  yellowish-white 
below ;  bull-head  plover  light  on  the  back,  with  dark 
breasts  ;  robin-snipe  light  grey  on  the  back  and  side, 
and  reddish  beneath.  But  the  snipe  are  not  always 
discriminating,  and  a  few  varieties  will  answer  every 
purpose. 

Stools  are  easily  made  and  moderate  in  cost,  and 
every  sportsman  should  have  not  less  than  twenty- 
five  of  his  own,  so  that  in  case  those  that  he  finds  at 
the  country  taverns  for  the  public  use  are  engaged, 
he  may  have  some  to  fall  back  upon — although 
twenty-five  are  not  a  full  supply.  They  may  be 
carried  in  a  bag  or  basket,  with  their  feet  and  bills 
removed  ;  and  the  basket  will  be  useful  to  hold  lunch, 
ammunition,  or  game. 

Extempore  representations  can  be  made  from  the 
dead  birds,  although  they  are  not  quite  so  good  as 
the  wooden  ones,  by  cutting  a  forked  stick  with  one 
end  much  longer  than  the  other,  and  thrusting  the 
longer  point  into  the  bird's  neck  and  the  shorter  one 
into  its  body.  It  may  then  be  stood  up  in  the  sand, 


BAY-SNIPE  SHOOTING.  83 

and  will  make  a  decoy  scarcely  distinguishable  by 
man  from  the  living  prototype,  but  apparently  more 
unnatural  to  the  birds — which  are  sometimes  alarm- 
ed at  its  ghastly  appearance — than  the  ordinary 
stools. 

Very  perfect  stools  are  made  of  India-rubber, 
which,  being  compressible  and  light,  can  be  readily 
transported,  and  are  a  deceptive  imitation;  their 
principal  defects  are  their  liability  to  injury  from 
shot — which  is  also  the  case  with  wooden  ones — and 
the  facility  with  which  the  hole  where  their  long  leg 
is  inserted  becomes  torn — an  accident  that  entirely 
destroys  their  usefulness.  They  can  be  packed  in  a 
small  compass,  and  are  infinitely  the  best  article 
where  they  are  to  be  carried  long  distances.  Al- 
though of  necessity  undersized,  their  full  plump  shape 
makes  them  visible  at  a  considerable  distance. 

To  prevent  the  bills,  which  are  the  most  delicate 
part,  from  being  injured,  it  is  necessary  to  make 
them  rather  thicker  than  those  of  the  living  bird ; 
they  are  to  be  painted  dark-brown,  blue,  or  grey,  ac- 
cording to  circumstances ;  and  their  loss,  although 
it  may  not  diminish  the  attractiveness,  destroys  the 
beauty  of  the  fictitious  flock.  More  important  than 
perfection  of  decoys,  is  accuracy  in  whistling ;  this 
should  be  a  perfect  imitation  and  answer  to  the  call 
of  the  bird,  and  will  often  allure  him  to  the  fowler 
without  any  decoys  whatever.  It  is  impossible  to 
describe  the  calls  on  paper,  and  long  practice  will 
alone  give  a  thorough  knowledge  of  them  ;  they  are 
generally  shrill  and  loud  ;  the  ghriller  and  louder  the 


84  BAY-SNIPE  SHOOTING. 

better — for  man's  best  efforts  will  rarely  equal  the 
bird's  natural  powers^  The  yelper  has  a  clear,  bold 
cry,  and  the  willet  a -fierce  shriek  that  can  be  heard 
for  miles  ;  ^»A  if  listened  to  from  a  distance,  it  will 
be  found  that  the  bird's  call  can  be  heard  twice  the 
distance  of  the  man's  answer.  It  is  true  that  when 
the  snipe  are  near  at  hand  and  about  alighting,  a 
lower  whistle  is  better,  for  the  reason  that  it  is  more 
perfect,  and  because  the  cry  changes  to  a  note  of 
welcome  when  the  flock  receives  its  fellows.  And 
often,  when  the  birds  once  head  for  the  stools,  if  not 
distracted  by  neighboring  stands,  or  alarmed,  they 
will  come  straight  on  without  any  whistling,  although 
this  is  by  no  means  invariably  the  case. 

Many  persons  find  insuperable  difficulty  in  whis- 
tling the  clear,  shrill,  sharp  calls ;  and  for  them  arti- 
ficial whistles  have  been  manufactured  with  a  hole 
at  the  lower  end,  which,  being  opened  or  closed  by 
the  finger,  like  the  holes  in  a  flute,  regulates  the 
sound.  These  artificial  whistles  are  not  so  good  as 
a  perfectly  trained  natural  on,e ;  the  sound  is  not 
sufficiently  reed-like,  and  they  occupy  and  confine 
one  hand  when  it  should  be  free  to  seek  the  gun. 
They  are  suspended  from  the  button-hole  by  a  string, 
so  that  they  can  be  dropped  in  an  instant ;  but  are 
only  used  out  of  necessity. 

A  curious  one,  to  be  held  in  the  mouth,  has  been 
invented  of  a  wedge-shaped  piece  of  tin  in  the  form 
of  an  axe-head,  with  two  holes  through  the  sides. 
The  sound  is  regulated  by  the  tongue,  and  is  alto- 
gether more  correct  than  that  of  any  other  whistle ; 


BAY-SNIPE  SHOOTING.  85 

but  more  time  and  patience  are  required  to  learn  the 
use  of  this  invention  than  of  the  lips.  It  will  be  far 
better  for  the  sportsman  who  intends  to  pursue  this 
sport,  to  practise  with  the  organs  that  nature  has 
given  him,  however  much  time  or  perseverance  may 
be  necessary,  and  then  there  will  be  no  danger  of 
leaving  his  whistle  at  home. 

As  before  remarked,  the  great  drawback  to  the 
sport  of  shooting  bay-snipe  is  its  uncertainty  ;  if  the 
flight  has  not  come  on,  or  a  westerly  wind  has  driven 
the  birds  to  sea,  or  a  heavy  north-easter  carries  them 
with  it  high  in  air  and  prevents  their  stopping — 
there  will  be  no  shooting ;  and  the  most  experienced 
hand  will  often  receive  the  comforting  assurance 
which  is  always  bestowed  upon  the  inexperienced, 
that  if  he  had  only  come  two  weeks  sooner,  or  de- 
ferred his  visit  two  weeks  longer,  he  would  have 
been  sure  of  fine  sport.  There  are  nevertheless  cer- 
tain general  rules  that  furnish  a  tolerable  criterion  ; 
and  laying  aside  the  spring  shooting,  which  occurs 
in  May,  and  is  extremely  uncertain,  the  main  flight 
of  small  birds — such  as  dowitchers  and  yellow-legs — 
commences  about  the  tenth  of  July,  and  of  large 
birds  about  the  fifteenth  of  August.  Each  lasts  about 
two  weeks. 

The  flight  of  large  birds  usually  terminates  with  a 
short  flight  of  yellow-legs,  and  is  followed  by  the 
plover,  which  are  succeeded  by  the  kriekers.  An 
easterly  storm  generally  brings  the  birds,  either  by 
bearing  them  from  their  northern  homes,  or  by  forc- 
ing them  in  from  the  sea,  where  the  main  body  is 


86  BAY-SNIPE   SHOOTING. 

supposed  to  fly ;  and  if  such  a  storm  occur  at  either 
of  these  periods,  and  be  succeeded  by  a  south-wester- 
ly wind,  it  will  surely  be  followed  by  an  abundance 
of  the  appropriate  birds. 

During  an  easterly  blow  they  will  be  seen  passing 
by  Point  Judith  in  an  almost  unbroken  line ;  and 
after  it,  they  abound  throughout  the  whole  length 
of  the  coast,  as  though  they  had  been  carried  to  all 
parts  of  it  at  once.  But  if  no  such  storm  occur, 
the  catching  the  flight  is  a  mere  chance  ;  and  where 
the  summer  has  been  dry,  the  snipe  will  be  scarce. 
If  the  meadows  have  been  kept  moist  by  continual 
showers,  there  will  be  a  moderate  supply  of  game 
the  summer  through ;  but  if  there  has  been  a  drought, 
the  surface  becomes  too  hard  for  the  snails  and  in- 
sects to  inhabit,  or  for  the  birds  to  penetrate ;  a  scar- 
city of  food  results,  and  there  will  be  no  flight  what- 
ever. 

Scattering  birds,  wandering  away  from  their  fel- 
lows and  exhausted  with  hunger,  delighted  at  be- 
holding their  friends  apparently  feeding,  will  be 
killed  perhaps  in  numbers  sufficient  to  make  now 
and  then  a  decent  bag ;  but  what  is  known  as  the 
"  flight" — when  the  great  army  moves  its  vast  co- 
horts, division  after  division,  regiment  after  regiment, 
company  after  company — will  not  take  place.  How 
they  reach  the  south  no  one  can  accurately  tell ; 
they  either  fly  inland  or  out  at  sea1  high  in  the  air, 
or  late  at  night ;  but  their  returning  myriads  in  the 
spring  following,  prove  that  in  some  way  they  did 
reach  their  southern  winter  homes. 


BAY-SNIPE  SHOOTING.  87 

Notwithstanding  the  greatest  experience,  and  de- 
spite the  most  favorable  signs,  the  oldest  gunner  will 
find  that  more  or  less  uncertainty  exists  in  obtaining 
sport,  and  that  his  unlucky  expeditions  generally  out- 
number his  lucky  ones.  Often  a  flight  will  commence 
unexpectedly  and  without  any  apparent  reason ; 
and  a  change  of  weather,  after  along  continuance  of 
wind  from  one  quarter,  will  be  followed  by  good 
shooting  for  some  days,  although  such  weather  is 
not  intrinsically  favorable.  The  follower  of  bay- 
birds  must  therefore  make  up  his  mind  to  disap- 
pointment, and  on  such  occasions  live  on  his  hopes 
for  the  future,  or  his  recollections  of  the  past. 

For  this  sport  a  heavy  gun,  such  as  is  commonly 
employed  for  ducks,  is  not  at  all  necessary  ;  inasmuch 
as  many  of  the  birds  are  small  and  the  flocks  fre- 
quently scattered,  it  is  rarely  desirable  to  use  two 
ounces  of  shot  and  five  drachms  of  powder  ;  and  to 
fire  such  a  charge  at  a  solitary  dowitcher,  as  is  often 
done,  is  simply  ridiculous.  A  light  field-gun,  with 
an  ounce  and  a  quarter  of  shot  and  three  drachms 
and  a  half  of  powder,  (or,  as  I  prefer,  an  ounce  of  shot 
and  three  drachms  of  powder,)  is  amply  sufficient — 
will  confer  more  pleasure  and  require  more  skill  in 
the  use,  will  cut  down  a  reasonable  number  from  a 
flock,  and  will  kill  a  single  bird  handsomely. 

The  gun  should  be  kept  at  half-cock,  and  may  be 
laid  upon  a  bench  beside  the  sportsman  ;  there  is 
always  time  to  cock  it,  even  if  a  flock  is  not  seen  till 
it  is  over  the  stools  ;  and  a  gun  at  full  cock  in  a  stand, 
is  a  danger  that  no  reasonable  man  will  encounter. 


88  BAY-SNIPE   SHOOTING. 

In  field-shooting,  I  do  not  approve  of  carrying  the 
gun  at  half-cock,  believing,  for  certain  reasons  un- 
necessary here  to  repeat,  that  it  is  less  dangerous  at 
full-cock ;  but  in  a  stand  or  in  a  house,  or  in  fact 
anywhere  but  in  the  field  where  it  is  always  in  the 
sportsman's  hand,  it  should  be  never  otherwise  than 
at  half-cock.  It  is  common  to  pass  in  front  of  guns 
lying  on  the  bench  in  the  stand,  and  they  often  fall 
off,  and  are  usually  reached  for  by  the  sportsman 
while  his  eye  is  on  the  advancing  flock,  and  does  not 
note  whether  his  hand  grasps  the  barrel  or  the  trig- 
gers ;  and  there  is  an  excitement,  when  the  flight  is 
rapid,  sufficiently  perilous  of  itself  in  connexion  with 
fire-arms,  without  uselessly  increasing  it.  Every 
precaution  should  therefore  be  taken  ;  and  if  by  acci- 
dent the  gun  which  cannot  go  off  at  half-cock  shall 
be  discharged  in  cocking  or  uncocking  it,  it  will 
point  forward,  away  from  the  stand,  and  in  such  a 
direction  that  injury  to  human  life  cannot  follow. 

Next  in  importance  to  care  in  preventing  the 
gun's  injuring  a  fellow-creature,  is  care  in  prevent- 
ing its  being  injured.  The  least  dampness,  whether 
from  fog  or  rain,  and  even  the  salt  air  alone,  will  rust 
the  delicate  steel  and  iron,  and,  penetrating  farther 
and  farther,  make  indentations  that  will  spoil  its 
beauty  and  injure  its  effectiveness  permanently.  To 
prevent  this,  oil  frequently  applied  is  the  only  reme- 
dy ;  a  rag  well  oiled,  and  a  bottle  to  replenish  from, 
should  be  among  the  ordinary  equipments,  and  in- 
variably taken  to  the  shooting-ground ;  the  first 
symptom  of  rust  or  even  discoloration  should  be  re- 


BAY-SNIPE   SHOOTING.  89 

moved,  and  every  portion  of  the  iron-work  kept 
well  lubricated.  At  night  a  waterproof  covering 
should  be  used,  and  the  charge  invariably  left  un- 
drawn, as  the  dirt  prevents  oxydization  for  a  time  ; 
and  during  a  rain  the  utmost  care  should  be  taken 
to  protect,  if  not  the  entire  gun,  at  least  the  locks  and 
trigger-plate.  Kerosene  oil  is  excellent  to  remove 
rust,  but  is  too  thin  to  form  a  coating,  and  not  so 
good  a  protection  as  sweet  or.  whale  oil.  Varnish 
is  highly  recommended,  but  I  have  never  known 
any  one  to  try  it ;  and  in  case  no  oil  can  be  obtain- 
ed, the  g-unners  on  Long  Island  are  in  the  habit  of 
shooting  a  small  snipe,  which  is  often  extremely  fat, 
and  using  its  skin  as  an  oiled  rag. 

Of  course  with  a  breech-loader  the  charge  is  with- 
drawn, and  the  cleaning  apparatus  may  be  forced 
through  every  evening,  although  this  is  unnecessary, 
asthe  dirt  is  rather  a  protection ;  and  after  thecleaning, 
whether  of  the  muzzle-loader  or  breech-loader,  the 
barrels  should  be  well  oiled  both  inside  and  out.  If, 
however,  the  gun  is  to  be  left  for  a  long  time  unused 
and  exposed  to  salt  air,  a  piece  of  greasy  rag  wound 
upon  a  stick  may  be  thrust  into  the  barrels  to  the 
bottom,  and  oil  should  be  liberally  applied  to  the  ex- 
posed parts.  Moreover,  the  locks,  however  well 
they  may  fit,  will  be  injured  after  a  while,  and  should 
be  removed  and  examined  occasionally.  The  size  of 
shot  used  should  be  changed  according  to  the  season 
and  character  of  the  flight ;  in  July,  when  the  yellow- 
legs  and  dowitchers  are  the  principal  victims,  No.  8 
is  abundantly  large ;  but  in  August,  when  curlews, 


90  BAY-SNIPE  SHOOTING. 

marlin,  and  willets  are  flying,  all  of  which  are  able 
to  endure  severe  punishment,  No.  6  is  preferable. 
Eley's  cartridges  are  often  useful  with  grass-plover, 
although  they  ball  so  frequently  that  the  majority 
of  sportsmen  have  lost  faith  in  them. 

Favorable  seasons  for  snipe,  when  heavy  or  re- 
peated rains  have  saturated  the  meadows,  and  filled 
every  hollow  with  stagnant  pools  of  dirty  water,  are 
also  favorable  for  mosquitoes.  Persons  who  suffer 
from  the  bites  of  this  pestiferous  insect — and  the 
difference  between  individuals  upon  this  subject  is 
remarkable — should  prepare  themselves  with  mos- 
quito-nets and  ill-scented  oils,  as  they  would  for  a 
visit  to  the  wild  woods ;  while  those  who  are  much 
affected  by  the  sun  should  bring  unguents  with 
which  to  temper  its  intensity  and  assuage  the  pain 
that  its  burning  rays  inflict. 

Shoes  are  the  proper  things  for  the  feet,  as  boots 
become  heated  and  uncomfortable;  and  a  brown 
linen  jacket  with  white  flannel  pantaloons,  thick 
enough  to  resist  the  attacks  of  a  mosquito,  and 
with  the  necessary  underclothes  for  an  exceptionally 
cold  day,  constitute  the  most  practical  rig. 

If  the  sportsman  use  a  muzzle-loader — which  he 
should  not  do  if  he  can  afford  to  buy  a  breech- 
loader— he  must  have  a  loading-stick  which  he  can 
extemporize  from  his  cleaning-rod  by  substituting  a 
ramrod  head  for  the  jag.  This  he  does  by  simply 
having  a  piece  of  brass  of  the  proper  size  and  shape 
to  screw  into  the  place  of  the  latter.  He  should  also 
have  two  guns,  or  he  loses  the  chance  at  the  return- 


BAY-SXIPE   SHOOTING.  91 

ing  flock,  which  is  the  most  exciting,  as  it  is  often 
the  most  successful  shot. 

The  powder  should  be  coarse ;  the  large  grain  of 
the  ducking-powder  being  alone  fitted  to  withstand 
the  deleterious  effects  of  the  moisture  that  is  an  inva- 
riable concomitant  of  the  salt  atmosphere  of  the 
ocean. 

One  great  difficulty  that  the  writer  has  encoun- 
tered in  preparing  this  work,  is  a  proper  selection  of 
names — the  natural  history  of  our  country  is  popu- 
larly so  little  understood;  to  copy  English  names 
and  apply  them  to  creatures  bearing  a  faint  resem- 
blance in  general  coloring,  though  neither  in  habits 
nor  scientific  distinctions,  was  so  natural  to  the  first 
immigrants,  and  the  introduction  of  a  proper  appel- 
lation is  so  nearly  impossible,  that  the  confusion  in 
nomenclature  of  our  birds,  beasts,  and  fishes  is  hardly 
surprising.  This  confusion  existing  in  every  depart- 
ment of  natural  history — confounding  fish  of  all  vari- 
eties, leaving  birds  namelessj  or  giving  them  too 
many  names — culminates  among  the  bay-snipe. 

Although  the  bony-fish  or  mossbunkers  of  New 
York  become  the  menhaden  of  the  Eastern  States, 
and  king-fish  are  transformed  into  barb  in  New 
Jersey,  and  perch  become  pickerel  in  the  west — 
there  are  rarely  more  than  two  names,  and  every 
fish  has  some  designation  ;  but  with  bay-snipe,  after 
an  infinite  multiplication  of  names  for  certain  species, 
others  are  left  entirely  unnamed.  Many  that  are 
frequently  killed  are  vyithout  a  popular  designation, 
and  more  still  are  called  frost-birds,  and  meadow- 


92  BAY-SNIPE   SHOOTING. 

snipe,  and  beach-birds — names  that  might  with  justice 
be  applied  to  the  entire  class,  and  which  are  so 
utterly  confused,  that  persons  from  different  sections 
of  the  country  do  not  know  what  others  are  talking 
about.  To  make  matters  worse,  the  scientific  gen- 
tlemen have  stepped  in,  and  after  indulging  in  plenty 
of  bad  Latin,  have  added  fresh  English  appellations, 
more  unmeaning  and  less  appropriate  if  possible  than 
the  common  ones. 

From  this  mass  of  incongruities  the  writer  has 
endeavored,  while  preserving  the  best  name,  to  select 
the  one  in  general  use,  bearing  in  mind  that  names 
are  mere  substitutes,  and  not  descriptive  adjectives. 
The  name  frost-bird  or  frost-snipe — which  belongs  to 
entirely  different  creatures — is  applicable  to  every 
bird  that  appears  after  a  frost,  and  as  nearly  a  hundred 
varieties  are  in  this  category,  it  is  not  distinctive ; 
the  names  meadow-snipe  and  beach-bird  are  ridicu- 
lous, but  the  latter,  being  applied  to  an  unimportant 
class,  is  allowed  to  stand.  The  snipe  that  is  herein 
called  a  krieker,  or,  as  it  may  be  spelled,  creaker, 
which  utters  a  hoarse,  creaking  note,  is  called  in  vari- 
ous places  meadow-snipe — although  most  of  the  bay- 
birds  haunt  the  meadows ;  fat-bird,  whereas  others 
are  equally  fat ;  and  short  neck,  in  spite  of  the  fact 
that  its  neck  is  longer  than  some  species ;  while 
ornithologists  call  it  pectoral  sandpiper,  probably 
because  it  has  a  breast.  So  also  with  the  brant-bird, 
whic"h  is  called  on  the  coast  of  New  Jersey  horsefoot- 
snipe,  because  it  feeds  on  the  spawn  ot  the  horse- 
foot  ;  notwithstanding  that  the  yellow-legs  and  seve- 


BAY-SNIPE   SHOOTING.  93 

ral  others  do  the  same.  The  name,  however,  is  not 
satisfactory  on  account  of  its  similarity  to  the  brant 
or  brent-goose ;  and  probably  the  scientific  desig- 
nation, turnstone,  if  it  were  at  all  in  common 
acceptation,  would  be  better.  It  is  to  be  hoped  these 
names  will  at  some  day  be  harmonized  by  universal 
consent,  and  these  pages  will  at  least  make  mutual 
comprehension  open  the  way  for  that  desirable  result. 
The  sickle-bill,  jack-curlew,  marlin,  willet,  golden- 
plover,  yelper,  dowitcher,  and  krieker,  are  excellent ; 
and  the  ring-tailed  marlin,  black-breast  plover,  yel- 
low-legs, and  robin-snipe,  are  at  least  descriptive. 
Were  these  generally  accepted,  a  simple  and  tole- 
rabjy  accurate  system  of  nomenclature  would  be 
obtained ;  and  it  has  been  my  effort,  while  placing 
the  preferable  name  at  the  head  of  the  description  of 
each  variety,  to  collate  all  the  other  names  that  in 
any  section  of  our  vast  territory  are  applied  to  the 
same  bird:  In  this  attempt  I  can  only  be  partially 
successful ;  for  the  ingenuity  of  the  American  people 
in  coining  new  names,  added  to  a  profound  ignorance 
of  ornithology,  has  produced  a  confusion  that  no  one 
man  can  reduce  to  order. 

Bay-snipe,  except  the  plovers,  kriekers,  and  a  few 
others,  are  not  considered  delicate  eating,  contract- 
ing along  the  salt  marshes  a  sedgy  flavor ;  but  on 
the  shores  of  the  western  lakes,  where  the  fresh 
water  appears  to  remove  this  peculiarity,  the  yellow- 
legs  and  yehpers — which  are  often  found  in  consi- 
derable numbers,  and  are  called  by  the  general 
appellation  of  plovers — are  almost  equal  in  tender, 


94  BAY-SNIPE  SHOOTING. 

juicy  delicacy  to  the  English  snipe.  Whether  the 
same  change  is  noticeable  in  the  larger  varieties,  I 
cannot  say  of  my  own  knowledge. 

The  gunners  have  an  ingenious  way  of  stringing 
them  in  bunches  of  a  half  dozen  each,  on  the  longest 
feathers  taken  from  their  wings,  a  pair  of  these  being 
tied  together  by  the  feather  ends,  and  the  quillpoints 
thrust  through  the  nostrils  of  the  birds.  It  is  desi- 
rable to  put  them  up  in  small  bunches,  as  under  the 
warm  temperature  of  summer  they  will,  unless  every 
precaution  is  exercised,  soon  become  tainted.  To 
prevent  this,  the  entrails  should  also  be  carefully 
removed  without  disturbing  the  plumage ;  and  a 
little  salt,  or,  as  many  persons  recommend,  coffee, 
rubbed  inside,  and  they  should  be  at  all  times  care- 
fully protected  from  the  sun.  Their  sedgy  flavor 
grows  stronger  with  every  day  they  are  kept ;  and 
being  extremely  oily,  the  least  taint  renders  them, 
together  with  all  the  wild  inhabitants  of  the  coast, 
unfit  for  food. 

Bay-snipe  are  essentially  migratory,  rarely  stop- 
ping on  our  shores  to  build  their  nests  and  rear  their 
young ;  during  the  spring  months  they  pass  to  or 
beyond  the  coast  of  Labrador,  and  attend  to  the 
duties  of  maternity  in  the  vast  levels  and  swamps 
that  surround  Hudson's  Bay,  and  constitute  a  large 
portion  of  the  northern  part  of  British  North  Ame- 
rica. In  my  ramblings  through  the  Provinces,  I  was 
frequently  informed  that  they  abounded  during  the 
latter  part  of  summer  on  the  marshes  near  the  Bay 
Chaleur  in  New  Brunswick.  This  must  evidently 


BAY-SNIPE  SHOOTING.  95 

have  been  during  their  return  flight ;  but  whether 
they  were  our  bay-birds  in  their  vast  variety,  or 
whether  they  were  merely  the  flocks  of  golden 
plover  that  follow  the  winding  of  the  coast  and  sub- 
sequently visit  Nantucket  and  Montauk  Point,  I  had 
no  opportunity  to  determine  by  personal  experience. 

With  us  they  make  their  appearance  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  Boston  Bay,  and  thence  they  are  found, 
with  various  intermissions,  caused  by  the  nature  of 
the  ground,  all  the  way  to  the  State  of  Texas.  The 
innumerable  bays,  sounds,  and  lagoons  of  our  South- 
ern States,  inclosed  by  broad  meadows  and  includ- 
ing thousands  of  marshy  islands,  are  their  favorite 
feeding-grounds,  and  are  visited  by  them  in  unnum- 
bered thousands.  The  larger  varieties  may  be  seen 
there  all  through  the  fall  quietly  feeding,  and  scarce- 
ly noticing  the  approach  of  man.  In  Texas  they 
seem  to  congregate  in  vast  bodies,  and  probably  move 
off  to  or  beyond  the  equator  in  the  early  winter 
months,  although  this  has  never  been  positively  as- 
certained. 

They  are  not  killed  as  game  south  of  Virginia, 
and  rarely  south  of  New  Jersey  ;  in  fact,  it  may  be 
said  that  only  on  Cape  Cod,  Long  Island,  and  the 
shore  line  of  New  Jersey,  are  they  scientifically  pur- 
sued. At  these  places  the  sport  has  greatly  dimi- 
nished of  late  years ;  a  few  years  ago  Barnstable  beach 
was  a  celebrated  resort ;  and  at  Quogue,  parties 
used  no  stools,  but  stationed  themselves  along  the 
narrow  neck  that  connects  the  beach  with  the  main 
land,  and  fired  till  their  guns  were  dirty  or  their  am- 


96  BAY-SNIPE  SHOOTING. 

munition  exhausted.  Then  it  was  no  unusual  thing 
to  expend  twenty-five  pounds  of  shot  in  a  day,  where 
now  the  sportsman  that  could  use  up  five  would  be 
fortunate. 

Of  all  the  locations  on  this  extent  of  meadow  and 
beach,  no  place  is  so  famous,  from  its  natural  advan- 
tages and  its  ancient  reputation,  as  Quogue.  It  is 
true  that  the  best  pond  is  permanently  occupied  by 
a  famous  Governor,  a  still  more  famous  General,  and 
a  notorious  Colonel — although  the  latter  is  not  "  in 
the  bond  ;"  but  there  are  other  good  stands,  and  for 
small  birds — yellow-legs,  dowitchers,  and  robin-snipe 
— it  has  no  equal.  Although  many  flocks  pass  it 
high  in  air,  all  those  that  follow  the  coast,  low  down 
to  the  earth,  must  cross  the  meadows  that  are  com- 
pressed to  a  narrow  strip  at  this  point,  which  is  the 
dividing-ground  between  the  two  great  bays  on  the 
south  side  of  Long  Island. 

Unfortunately,  a  watering-place  for  the  summer 
resort  of  the  exquisites  of  New  York  has  been  es- 
tablished in  the  vicinity,  and  the  consequent  advan- 
tages of  comfortable  beds  and  a  good  table  are  more 
than  overborne  by  the  annoyance  of  such  companion- 
ship. If  there  be  a  flight  of  birds,  every  unfledged 
sportsman  takes  out  his  elegant  fowling-piece,  and, 
daintily  dressed,  proceeds  to  the  meadow,  where 
he  would  be  comparatively  harmless,  and  dangerous 
only  to  himself,  were  there  room  for  him  and  his 
fellows.  But  as  the  ground  is  limited,  and  the 
favorable  points  few,  he  is  sure  to  interfere ;  and,  while 
killing  nothing  himself,  ruins  the  prospects  of  those 


BAY-SNIPE  SHOOTING.  97 

who  could  do  better.  At  Quogue,  decoys  were  first 
used  about  the  year  1850,  and  the  best  day's  sport  of 
late  was  one  hundred  and  thirty-eight  birds. 

West  of  Quogue  there  are  some  snipe,  and  occa- 
sionally a  good  flight  at  South  Oyster  Bay,  and 
more  rarely  still  at  Rockaway  ;  but  the  large  birds 
are  not  numerous  north  of  New  Jersey.  Squan 
Beach,  Barnegat,  Egg  Harbor,  and  Brigantine  Beach 
are  famous  for  the  large  birds — the  sickle-bills,  cur- 
lews, willets,  and  marlins — that  visit  them ;  the 
same  number  of  shots  cannot  be  obtained  "as  at 
Quogue,  but  the  bag  is  larger.  At  the  former 
places  there  is  also  a  flight,  of  greater  or  less  extent, 
of  dowitchers  and  yellow-legs,  but  these  are  not  so 
abundant  as  along  the  margin  of  the  Great  South 
Bay  of  Long  Island.  On  the  other  hand,  a  bag  of 
one  hundred  of  the  larger  varieties  is  not  unusual ; 
while  at  Egg  Harbor  the  robin-snipe,  which  affect 
marshy  islands  are  exceedingly  numerous. 
5 


CHAPTER  IV. 

THE    JERSEY    COAST. 

"  A  Girl  from  New  Jersey" 

WHY  is  it  that  every  one  who  visits  New  Jersey 
comes  away  with  an  ecstatic  impression  of  Jersey 
girls  that  he  never  can  forget  ?  Lovely  they  are,  it 
is  true,  but  not  more  beautiful  than  other  fair  ones 
of  America  ;  affable,  gentle,  graceful,  sprightly — but 
these  qualities  are  common  in  our  angel-favored 
country.  Yet  no  one  that  has  been  blessed  with 
their  company  can  forget  them,  but  carries  for  ever 
in  his  heart  the  image  of  one,  if  not  two  or  three, 
Jersey  girls. 

These  reflections  were  suggested  to  the  writer  by 
the  recollection  of  his  first  trip,  many  years  ago,  to 
the  Jersey  coast.  The  summer  had  been  oppres- 
sively hot,  and  being  detained  in  town  during  the 
fore  part  of  August,  he  was  glad  to  avail  himself  of 
the  first  chance  to  escape  from  the  city  and  betake 
himself  to  the  cool,  invigorating  breezes  of  the  sea- 
shore. Not  knowing  precisely  what  route  to  follow, 
he  trusted  himself  on  board  the  train  without  any 
definite  destination,  and,  upon  inquiry,  was  informed 
that  a  good  place  for  bay-shooting  was  at  Tommy 
Cook's,  near  the  coast,  and  about  four  miles  from 


THE  JERSEY  COAST.  99 

one  of  the  last  stations  on  the  road,  where,  under 
the  charge  of  the  Quaker  host,  considerable  com- 
fort could  be  had. 

To  Cook's,  therefore,  upon  reaching  the  station, 
the  writer  told  the  driver  of  what  seemed  to  be  a 
mongrel  public  coach,  that  he  wanted  to  go  ;  but  in 
thoughtlessness,  never  conceiving  that  there  could  be 
two  Cooks,  he  omitted  the  Tommy  that  should  have 
preceded  the  direction.  His  surprise  was  by  no 
means  moderate  to  find,  upon  reaching  his  destina- 
tion, the  supposed  Quaker  host  slightly  inebriated, 
dancing  a  solitary  hornpipe  to  an  admiring  circle. 
Thinking  perhaps  that  that  was  the  custom  of  Jersey 
Quakers — for  the  State  is  exceptional  in  certain 
things — he  took  a  glass  of  bad  whiskey  with  the 
jovial  landlord,  made  proposals,  much  to  every  one's 
surprise,  to  go  shooting  the  day  following,  and  re- 
tired early. 

"Next  morning  a  short  walk  dissipated  all  idea  of 
finding  game,  and  having  made  the  discovery  that 
he  was  still  fifteen  miles  from  the  proper  shooting- 
ground  on  the  beach,  he  returned  to  the  house,  and 
in  order  to  enjoy  a  few  hours  ere  the  wagon  for  his 
further  transpoi*tation  would  be  ready,  joined  a 
bathing  party.  It  was  quite  a  sociable  affair  ;  both 
sexes,  dressed  in  their  bathing  clothes — the  girls 
without  shoes — crowded  down  in  the  bottom  of  an 
open  wagon.  But  surely  it  is  not  fair  to  tell  how 
one  of  the  flannel-encased  nymphs  nearly  fell  from 
the  wagon,  and  was  caught  in  the  arms  of  the  writer, 
who  had  jumped  out  for  the  purpose  ;  nor  how  the 


100  THE  JERSEY   COAST. 

rest  drove  off  to  leave  them ;  nor  how  he  bore  his 
lovely  burden — plastic  grace  and  beauty  personified 
— bravely  in  pursuit ;  nor  how  his  foot  chanced  to 
trip  —  accidentally,  of  course  —  and  they  fell  and 
rolled  in  the  sand  together.  If  he  would  tell,  he 
could  not ;  words  do  not  exist  for  the  purpose. 
Try,  male  reader,  to  carry  one  hundred  and  twenty 
pounds  of  essential  loveliness  with  only  a  single 
flannel  garment  to  protect  it ;  feel  it  give  to  your 
pressure ;  clasp  its  exquisite  but  yielding  contour ; 
press  it  to  your  heart,  and  then  in  an  ecstasy  roll 
over  and  over  with  it  in  the  sand.  Having  done  so, 
endeavor  to  describe  the  sensation,  or  forget  that 
particular  girl  in  a  life-time. 

The  road  to  the  beach  lay  through  a  village  for- 
merly known  by  the  euphonious  and  distinctive  title 
of  Crab  Town — a  village  of  a  thousand  inhabitants. 
It  was  evening  ere  Crab  Town  was  reached,  and 
just  beyond,  the  driver  came  upon  a  bevy  of  female 
acquaintances.  In  a  moment  the  suggestion  was 
made  that  they  should  ride;  after  a  little  demur 
they  accepted,  and  were  crowded  in.  The  stage 
was  not  large,  but  there  would  have  been  room  if 
they  had  been  twice  as  numerous ;  they  filled  every 
seat,  and  every  lap  besides. 

There  are  days  in  one's  lifetime  that  should  be 
celebrated  as  anniversaries ;  and  if  any  gentleman 
has  carried  in  his  arms,  and  rolled  in  the  sand,  one 
charming  Jersey  girl  in  the  morning,  and  has  had 
another  equally  charming  sit  on  his  lap  in  the  even- 
ing, he  may  look  upon  that  day  as  never  likely  to 
repeat  itself. 


THE  JERSEY  COAST.  101 

There  was  a  hum  of  pleasant  voices — words  like, 
"Oh!  Deb,  we  should  not  have  got  in;"  "Why, 
Mary,  we  may  as  well  ride — it's  all  in  our  way." 
"  Now,  Lib,  don't  say  I'm  married."  "  Well,  your 
husband  is  a  go$d  way  off."  But  who  could  attend 
to  what  is  occurring  around  him  when  seated  in  the 
dark  with  a  lovely  angel  in  his  lap  ?  So  situated, 
the  ride  appeared  very  short,  and  the  next  mile, 
which  was  as  far  as  our  delightful  freight  would  go, 
was  passed  seemingly  in  about  a  minute  and  a  half, 
decidedly  the  fastest  time  on  record.  At  the  end 
of  it,  on  a  suggestion  from  the  driver,  who  lived  in 
that  section  and  knew  the  country,  toll  was  taken 
of  their  rosy  lips  as  passage-money.  Jersey  is  a 
glorious  place. 

Passing  Charley's,  as  he  is  generally  called,  the 
son  of  the  old  man,  who  for  years  was  famous  as  the 
first  hunter  in  that  land,  we  turned  off  beyond,  down 
the  beach.  The  bay  between  the  mainland  and  the 
sand-bar,  known  everywhere  as  "  The  Beach,"  was 
narrow,  widening  slowly  as  we  advanced,  until,  at 
the  end  of  our  seven  miles'  journey,  it  was  nearly 
three  miles  across.  There  was  little  vegetation  be- 
side salt  grass  and  bay-berry  bushes ;  but  of  the 
animal  kingdom  the  only  representatives — the  mos- 
quitoes— were  thicker  than  the  mind  of  man  can 
conceive ;  they  rose  in  crowds,  pursuing  us  fiercely, 
covering  the  horses  in  an  unbroken  mass,  settling 
upon  ourselves,  flying  into  our  eyes,  crawling  upon 
our  necks,  stinging  through  our  clothes,  and  filling 
the  air.  Although  small,  they  were  hungry  be- 


102  THE  JERSEY  COAST. 

yond  belief,  and,  following  their  prey  relentlessly, 
compelled  us  to  fight  them  off  with  bushes  of  bay- 
berry  for  our  lives. 

Mosquitoes  are  found  plentifully  at  our  summer 
watering-places,  and  still  more  numerously  in  the 
wild  woods,  grow  abundantly  in  Canada,  and  are 
over-plentiful  at  Lake  Superior ;  but  nowhere  are 
they  so  merciless,  fierce,  and  numerous,  as,  on  occa- 
sions, at  the  New  Jersey  beach.  They  are  a  beauti- 
ful little  creature,  delicate,  graceful,  and  elegant, 
but  obtrusive  in  their  attentions;  although  the 
ardent  lover  was  anxious  to  be  bitten  by  the  same 
mosquito  that  had  bitten  his  lady-love,  that  their 
blood  might  mingle  in  the  same  body. 

One  good  effect  they  had,  however,  was  to  com- 
pel the  driver  to  urge  on  his  weary  team,  and  leave 
him  no  time  to  gossip  at  Jakey's  Tavern,  over  the 
beach  party  that  was  to  be  held  there  next  day.  A 
beach  party  is  another  delightful  institution  of  the 
Jerseyites,  and  consists  of  a  congregation  of  the 
youths  of  both  sexes,  especially  the  female,  collected 
from  the  main  shore,  and  meeting  on  the  beach  for 
a  frolic,  a  dance,  and  a  bath.  As  it  rarely  breaks 
up  till  daylight,  the  pleasantest  intimacies  are  some- 
times formed,  and  soft  words  uttered  that  could  not 
be  wrung  from  blushing  beauty  in  broad  day. 

The  establishment  of  the  "  old  man" — the  sporting 
"  old  man,"  not  the  political  one — since  he  has  been 
gathered  to  his  forefathers,  is  kept  up  by  his  son-in- 
law,  usually  known  by  the  abbreviation — Bill.  It 
is  not  an  elegant  place  ;  sportsmen  do  not  demand 


THE  JERSEY  COAST.  103 

elegance,  and  willingly  sleep,  if  not  in  the  same  room, 
in  chambers  that  lead  into  one  another ;  but  it  is 
situated  within  a  hundred  yards  of  the  best  shooting 
ground,  and  is  as  well  kept  as  any  other  tavern  on 
the  beach.  Sportsmen  do  not  mind  waiting  their 
turn  to  use  the  solitary  wash  basin,  drawing  water 
from  the  hogshead,  or  wiping  on  the  same  towel, 
but  are  thankful  for  good  food,  and  the  luxury  of  a 
well  filled  ice-house. 

In  addition  to  the  general  directions  heretofore 
given,  it  may  be  well  in  this  connexion  to  describe 
more  particularly  the  mode  of  killing  bay-snipe.  A 
number  of  imitation  birds,  usually  called  stools,  are 
cut  from  wood,  and  painted  to  resemble  the  various 
species ;  they  have  a  long  stick,  or  leg,  inserted  into 
the  lower  part  of  the  body,  and  a  sufficient  number 
to  constitute  a  large  flock  are  set  up  in  shallow 
water,  or  upon  some  bar  where  the  birds  are  accus- 
tomed to  feed.  They  are  made  from  thin  wood,  or 
even  from  tin,  and  are  headed  various  ways  so  as  to 
show  in  all  directions ;  the  coarsest  and  least  perfect 
imitations  will  answer. 

The  most  remarkable  trait  of  the  shore  birds,  or 
bay-snipe,  is  their  gregarious  nature  and  sociability. 
A  flock  flying  high  in  air,  apparently  intent  upon 
some  settled  course,  will,  the  moment  they  see  ano- 
ther flock  feeding,  turn  and  join  it.  Their  natural 
history,  or  the  object  which  they  evidently  have  in 
thus  joining  forces,  does  not  seem  to  be  understood ; 
but  the  baymen,  by  imitation-birds  and  calls,  take 
advantage  of  this  instinct.  Farther  south,  along  the 


104:  THE  JERSEY  COAST. 

shores  of  Florida  and  Texas,  these  snipe  collect  in 
crowds ;  and  either  this  is  the  first  step  towards  that 
purpose,  or  they  are  merely  attracted  by  the  feeding 
birds  to  a  promising  place  for  a  plentiful  repast. 

Although  ordinarily  they  will  come  to  the  stools 
of  themselves,  if  they  happen  to  be  at  a  distance  fly- 
ing fast  and  high,  the  gunner  must  trust  to  the 
shrillness  of  his  whistle  and  the  perfection  of  his  call, 
to  attract  their  attention.  If  they  turn  towards  the 
decoys  and  answer  the  whistle — which  they  will  do  at 
an  immense  distance — they  are  almost  sure  to  come 
straight  on,  and  their  confidence  once  gained,  rarely 
wavers. 

There  is  a  common  expression  among  the  bay- 
men,  that  birds  have  a  trade,  or  are  trading  up  and 
down  over  a  certain  course,  by  which  they  mean 
that  they  fly  backward  and  forward  at  regular  hours, 
and  to  and  from  regular  places.  Snipe  that  are 
thus  engaged  trading  are  not  only  in  the  finest  con- 
dition, but  come  to  the  decoys,  or  stool,  as  it  is  term- 
ed, the  most  readily.  They  are  probably  stopping 
on  the  meadows,  and  fly  to  their  feeding-grounds  in 
the  morning  and  back  at  night.  The  great  migra- 
tory bodies,  which  frequently  stretch  in  broken  lines 
almost  across  the  horizon,  and  which  are  pursu- 
ing their  steady  course  to  their  southern  homes, 
rarely  heed  the  whistle,  or  turn  to  the  silly  flock 
that  is  eating  while  it  should  be  travelling. 

The  best  days  are  those  with  a  cloudy  sky,  and  a 
south-westerly  wind.  On  such  occasions  the  birds 
often  come  in  myriads,  delighting  the  sportsman's 


THE  JERSEY  COAST.  105 

heart,  testing  his  nerves,  and  filling  his  bag  to  reple- 
tion. When  the  object  is  to  kill  the  greatest  num- 
ber possible,  they  are  permitted  to  alight  among  the 
stools  and  collect  together  before  the  gun  is  fired ; 
then  the  first  discharge  is  followed  rapidly  by  the 
second,  which  tears  among  their  thinned  ranks  as 
they  rise;  and,  if  there  be  a  second  gun,  by  the  third 
and  fourth  barrel,  till  frequently  all  are  killed.  The 
scientific  and  sportsmanlike  mode  is  to  fire  before 
they  alight,  selecting  two  or  three  together  and  fir- 
ing at  the  foremost. 

It  is  a  glorious  thing  to  see  a  flock  of  marlin  or 
willet,  or  perhaps  the  chief  of  all,  the  sickle-bills, 
swerve  from  their  course  away  up  in  the  heavens, 
and  after  a  moment's  uncertainty  reply  to  the  sports- 
man's deceitful  call  and  turn  towards  his  false  copies 
of  themselves.  As  they  approach,  the  rich  sienna 
brown  of  the  marlin  and  curlew  seems  to  color  the 
sky  and  reflect  a  ruddy  hue  upon  surrounding  ob- 
jects ;  or  the  black  and  white  of  the  barred  wings  of 
the  willet  makes  them  resemble  birds  hewn  from 
veined  marble.  The  sportsman's  heart  leaps  to  his 
throat,  as  crouching  down  with  straining  eye  and 
nerve,  grasping  his  faithful  gun,  he  awaits  with 
eager  anxiety  the  proper  moment ;  then,  rising  ere 
they  are  aware  of  the  danger,  he  selects  the  spot 
where  their  crowding  bodies  and  jostling  wings  shut 
out  the  clouds  beyond,  and  pours  in  his  first  most 
deadly  barrel ;  and  quickly  bringing  to  bear  the 
other  as  best  he  may  among  the  now  frightened 
creatures  as  they  dart  about,  he  delivers  it  before  he 
5* 


106  THE  JERSEY   COAST. 

has  noticed  how  many  fell  to  the  first.  Dropping 
back  to  his  position  of  concealment,  he  recommences 
whistling,  and  the  poor  things,  forgetting  their  fright 
and  anxious  to  know  why  their  friends  alighted  amid 
a  roar  like  thunder,  return  to  the  fatal  spot,  and 
again  give  the  fortunate  sportsman  a  chance  for  his 
reloaded  gun. 

It  was  for  such  glorious  sport  as  this,  with  fair 
promise  of  success — for  the  flight  was  on,  as  the  say- 
ing is,  when  the  snipe  are  moving — that  I  prepared 
myself  the  next  morning.  Rising  at  earliest  day- 
break, a  friend,  the  gunner,  and  myself  sallied  out  to 
the  blind,  and  having  set  out  our  stools,  possessed 
our  souls  in  patience  for  what  might  follow.  A  blind 
is  another  ingenious  invention  of  the  devil — as  per- 
sonified by  a  bayman,  in  pursuit  of  wild  fowl — and 
is  constructed  by  planting  bushes  thickly  in  a  circle 
round  a  bench.  Seated  upon  this  bench  and  con- 
cealed from  the  suspicious  eyes  of  the  snipe  by  the 
dense  foliage  of  the  bay  berry  bushes,  the  sportsman, 
in  comparative  comfort,  awaits  his  prey.  In  less 
civilized  localities  he  hides  himself  among  the  long 
sedge  gras?,  or  scoops  out  a  hole  in  the  sand  and 
lies  at  length  upon  a  waterproof  blanket. 

The  wind  had  hauled,  in  nautical  language,  to  the 
south' ard  and  west'ard,  and  the  sun's  rays  driving 
aside  the  hazy  clouds,  illuminated  the  eastern  sky 
with  fiery  glory.  The  land  and  water,  dim  with  the 
heavy  night  fog,  stretched  out  in  broad,  undefined 
outline,  and  the  heavens  seemed  close  down  upon 
the  earth.  Through  the  hazy  atmosphere  and  slug- 


THE  JERSEY  COAST.  107 

gish  darkness  the  rays  of  light  penetrated  slowly, 
bringing  out  feature  after  feature  of  the  landscape, 
lighting  the  tops  of  distant  hills,  and  revealing  the 
fleecy  coursers  of  the  sky. 

Amid  the  fading  darkness  we  soon  heard  the 
welcome  cry  of  the  bay-snipe  pursuing  his  course, 
guided  by  light  that  had  not  yet  reached  our  portion 
of  the  earth's  surface.  Instantly  we  responded  with 
a  vigor  and  rapidity  on  behalf  of  each,  that  must 
Have  impressed  the  travelling  birds  with  the  belief 
that  we  constituted  an  immense  flock.  Again  and 
again,  long  before  our  straining  eyes  could  catch 
the  outline  of  their  forms,  came  the  answering  cry. 
Our  eagerness  increased  with  the  approaching  sound, 
until  from  out  the  dim  air  rushed  a  glorious  flock  of 
marbled  willet,  and  swooping  down  to  our  stools 
dropped  their  long  legs  to  alight — we  feeling  as 
though  little  shining  goddesses  were  descending 
upon  us. 

Without  pausing  to  discuss  their  angelic  character, 
but  mercilessly  bringing  our  double-barrels  to  bear 
upon  the  crowded  ranks,  we  poured  in  a  destructive 
broadside  that  hurled  a  dozen  upon  the  bloodied 
sand.  Startled  at  the  fearful  report  and  its  terrible 
consequences,  they  rose,  darting  and  crossing  in 
their  alarm,  and  fled  at  full  speed ;  but  hearing  again 
the  familiar  call,  after  flying  a  few  hundred  yards, 
they  turned  and  came  once  more  straight  for  the 
decoys.  Then  my  friend  thought  highly  of  me  and 
my  breech-loading  gun,  for  ere  he  had  reloaded  I 
had  discharged  my  two  barrels  three  times,  adding 


108  THE  JERSEY  COAST. 

six  birds  to  those  already  upon  the  sand.  Eighteen 
willet  from  the  first  flock,  and  ere  the  sun  was  fairly 
up,  gave  us  a  good  start ;  and  after  the  birds  were 
gathered,  the  favorable  send-off  was  duly  celebrated 
in  a  few  drops  of  water  with  enough  spirit  to  take 
the  danger  out. 

And  now  myriads  of  swallows  made  their  appear- 
ance, skimming  close  along  the  water,  but  in  one 
steady  course,  as  though  they  were  going  out  for 
the  day,  and  would  not  be  back  till  night-fall.  They 
were  followed  by  scattering  snipe  that  furnished  neat 
but  easy  shooting  till  six  o'clock,  when  the  regular 
flight  began  with  a  splendid  flock  of  marliri  that 
came  rapidly  from  the  south'ard,  and  after  hovering 
over  the  stools  and  giving  us  one  chance,  returned 
for  two  more  favors  from  the  breech-loader,  and  left 
sixteen  of  their  number. 

Sportsmen  of  any  experience  know  that  nothing 
is  easier  than  to  select  from  a  flock  a  single  bird 
with  each  barrel ;  but  in  bay-shooting,  a  man  who 
claims  to  excel,  must  kill  several  with  the  first  bar- 
rel, and  one,  at  least,  with  the  second.  If,  however, 
to  the  ordinary  excitement  be  added  the  natural 
emulation  arising  from  the  presence  of  several  sports- 
men in  the  same  stand,  the  foregoing  desirable 
result  is  not  always  attained.  If,  therefore,  the 
reader  shrewdly  suspects  we  should  have  killed 
more  birds  than  we  did,  let  him  place  himself  in  a 
similar  position,  and  record  his  success. 

Shore  birds  of  the  various  species,  beginning  with 
the  magnificent  sickle-bill,  and  including  the  wary 


THE  JERSEY  COAST.  109 

jack-curlew,  the  noisy,  larger  yellow-legs  or  yelper, 
and  the  smaller  one,  down  to  the  pretty  simple- 
hearted  dowitcher,  went  to  make  up  our  morning's 
bag.  The  scorching  sun  when  it  hung  high  over 
our  heads  stopped  the  flight,  and,  aided  by  venomous 
mosquitoes,  drove  us  to  the  shelter  of  the  house,  and 
turned  our  thoughts  towards  dinner. 

The  stands  being  convenient  to  the  tavern,  we 
had  run  in  and'  snatched  a  hasty  breakfast,  but  now 
collected  to  clean  guns,  load  cartridges,  and  talk 
over  results.  The  breech-loader  being  at  that  time 
something  of  a  novelty,  attracted  considerable  at- 
tention, and  was  accused  of  that  defect  popularly 
attributed  to  it,  of  not  shooting  strongly.  As  there 
were  several  expensive  guns  present — among  them 
one  of  William  Moore — in  all  of  which  the  owners 
had  great  faith,  the  question  was  soon  tested  and 
settled  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  most  sceptical. 

That  being  concluded,  black-breast,  or  bull-head 
plover,  was  the  occasion  of  a  terrible  contest  over 
the  entire  plover  family — some  of  the  sportsmen 
insisting  there  were  three,  others  four  or  five  well- 
known  kinds.  They  all  agreed  as  to  there  being 
the  grass-plover,  the  bull-head,  and  the  golden-plo- 
ver ;  but  some  claimed  in  addition,  the  frost  bird 
and  the  red-backed  plover.  At  last  one  burst 
forth: 

"  There  is  Barnwell ;  he  ought  to  know :  what 
does  he  say  ?  " 

As  they  turned  inquiringly,  feeling  the  momentous 
nature  of  the  occasion,  and  that  now  was  the  chance 


110  THE  JERSEY  COAST. 

to  establish  my  reputation  for  ever,  with  an  air  of 
deep  learning,  I  commenced : 

"  In  the  first  place,  you  are  mistaken  in  including 
among  plovers  the  grass  or  grey-plover,  as  it  is 
commonly  called  ;  it  is  not  a  plover  at  all— - — " 

"  Oh !  that  is  nonsense,"  they  burst  forth  unani- 
mously ;  "  you  don't  know  what  you're  talking 
about." 

Never  was  a  growing  reputation  more  suddenly 
nipped.  Instantly  reduced  to  a  state  of  meekness, 
and  only  too  glad  to  save  a  shred  of  character,  I 
mildly  suggested  that  Giraud's  work  on  the  birds 
of  Long  Island  was  in  my  valise,  and  probably  con- 
tained the  desired  information. 

"  Well,"  said  one,  "  let's  hear  what  he  says." 

So  I  procured  the  book  and  read  as  follows : 

" '  TKINGA  BAETRAMIA — WILSON. 

BARTRAM'S    SANDPIPER. 

Bar-train's  Sandpiper,  Tringa  Bartramia,  Wil.  Amer.  Orn. 

Totanus  Bartramius  Bonap.  Syn. 
Totanus  Barttamius  Bartram  Tatler,  Su.  &  Rich.     Bartra- 

mian  Tatler,  Nutt.  Man. 

Bartramian   Sandpiper.     Totanus  Bartramius  Aud.    Orn. 
Biog.' 

"  After  giving  the  specific  character,  and  a  spirited 
account  of  the  well-known  manner  of  shooting  them 
from  a  wagon,  which  is  not  followed  with  any  other 
bird,  as  you  well  know,  he  proceeds  as  follows : 

" '  In  Massachusetts,  Rhode  Island,  New  Jersey, 
and  on  the  Shinnecock  and  Hempstead  Plains,  Long 


THE  JERSEY   COAST.  Ill 

Island,  it  is  common,  where  it  is  known  by  the  name 
of  "gray,"  "  grass,"  "  field,"  or  "  upland  "  plover.  It 
is  very  wary,  and  difficult  to  be  approached.  On  the 
ground  it  has  an  erect  and  graceful  gait.  When 
alarmed  it  runs  rapidly  for  a  short  distance  before 
taking  wing,  uttering  a  whistling  note  as  it  rises ; 
its  flight  is  rapid,  frequently  going  out  of  sight 
before  alighting.  It  usually  keeps  on  the  open,  dry 
grounds — feeding  on  grasshoppers,  insects,  and  seeds. 
In  the  month  of  August  it  is  generally  in  fine  condi- 
tion, and  highly  prized  as  game.  When  feeding, 
for  greater  security,  this  species  scatter  about ;  the 
instant  the  alarm  is  given,  all  move  off.  In  the  lat- 
ter part  of  August  it  migrates  southward,  and,  it  is 
said,  performs  the  journey  at  night.  Stragglers  fre- 
quently remain  behind  until  late  in  September.' " 

"  It  is  evident  he  knew  the  bird,"  replied  one  of 
the  objectors ;  "  but  as  he  calls  it  by  six  or  seven 
names — the  English  ones  being  both  sand-piper  and 
tatler — he  evidently  did  not  know  what  it  should 
be  called." 

"  That  is  the  way  with  naturalists,"  replied  another ; 
"  they  each  give  a  name  to  a  species,  but  in  this  case 
all  agree  that  it  is  not  a  plover.  What  is  the  name 
plover  derived  from  ?  " 

"  It  comes  from  the  French  word  Pluvier,  rain- 
bird,  because  it  generally  flies  during  a  rain.  But 
naturalists  found  distinctions  more  upon  the  shape 
of  bill  and  claws  than  on  the  habits  of  any  species. 
According  to  them,  plovers  proper  have  no  hind  toe, 
or,  at  most,  only  a  knob  in  its  place." 


112  THE  JERSEY  COAST. 

"  Do  you  know  what  Frank  Forester  says  on  the 
subject  ?" 

Feeling  my  reputation  rising  a  little,  I  resumed  : 
"  He  confuses  frost-bird  and  grass-plover,  quoting 
Audubon  as  his  authority;  but  he  points  out  the 
distinctive  peculiarity  of  the  plover." 

"  If  he  thinks  a  grass-plover  and  a  frost-bird  are 
alike,  he  knows  very  little  of  his  subject.  Why,  the 
frost-bird  stools  admirably,  while  the  plover  never 
stools  at  all." 

"Not  so  fast!  Frank  Forester  was  a  splendid 
writer,  and  upon  matters  with  which  he  was  familiar 
he  was  thorough.  He  has  conferred  an  immense  favor 
upon  the  American  sporting  world ;  but  where  he 
had  not  personal  experience — and  no  one  can  know 
everything — he  had  to  rely  upon  others.  He  has 
done  as  much  to  correct  and  elevate  sportsmanship 
in  this  country,  to  introduce  a  proper  vocabulary, 
and  to  enforce  obedience  to  gentlemanly  rules,  as 
any  man  possibly  could.  As  a  body,  we  owe  it  to 
him  that  we  are  sportsmen,  and  not  pot-hunters. 
Probably  in  some  places  the  grass-plover  is  called  a 
frost-bird." 

"  I  have  more  faith  in  Giraud,  and  would  like  to 
hear  what  he  can  tell  us  about  the  golden-plover, 
unless  he  says  that  is  a  sandpiper  also." 

"  He  begins  with  a  description  of  the  black-bellied 
plover,  which  is  known  to  us  as  bull-head,  the  cha- 
radrius  helveticus,  and  then  describes  the  American 
golden-plover,  or  charadrius  pluvialis,  and  uses 
these  words :  '  It  is  better  known  to  our  gunners  by 


THE  JERSEY  COAST.  113 

the  name  of  frost-bird,  so  called  from  being  more 
plentiful  during  the  early  frosts  of  autumn,  at  which 
season  it  is  generally  in  fine  condition,  and  exceed- 
ingly well  flavored.'  Then  follow  the  ring-plover,  or 
ring-neck — charadrius  semipalmatus,  Wilson's  plo- 
ver; the  piping-plover,  or  beach-bird — charadrius 
melodius  ;  and  the  kildeer  plover — charadrius  voci- 
ferus,  these  being  all  the  varieties  of  American  plo- 
ver." 

Bill  could  stand  it  no  longer;  but  rising  as  the 
book  was  closed,  burst  forth  at  once : 

"  Those  writers  are  queer  fellows  ;  they  put  the 
oddest,  hardest,  longest  names  to  birds  that  ever  I 
heard.  Who  would  have  thought  of  their  calling 
a  two-penny  beach-bird,  a  radish  mellow-deuce ! 
What  I  have  to  say  is — we  baymen  will  never  learn 
these  new-fangled  names." 

"  That  is  exactly  the  trouble,"  I  replied.  "  You 
baymen  will,  in  different  sections  of  the  country, 
call  the  same  bird  by  various  names,  till  no  one  can 
tell  what  you  are  talking  about ;  and  the  man  of 
science  has  to  step  in  and  dig  up  a  third  name, 
usually  some  Latin  affair,  which  nobody  will  accept. 
Thus  it  is  that  the  older  frost-birds,  which,  strange 
to  say,  invariably  arrive  before  the  young,  are 
known  as  golden-plover,  and  their  progeny  as  frost- 
birds." 

"  Speaking  of  the  seasons,"  replied  Bill,  evasively, 
"have  you  noticed  that  they  are  changing  every 
year  ?  The  springs  are  later  than  they  used  to  be. 
In  old  times  the  English  snipe  arrived  from  the 


114  THE  JERSEY  COAST. 

south  early  in  March ;  now  they  hardly  come  till 
June  ;  so,  the  ducks  come  later  and  stay  later.  The 
springs  are  colder,  and  the  autumns  warmer,  than 
when  I  was  young,  and  the  bay-snipe  appear  in 
September  instead  of  August,  as  it  once  was." 

"As  to  the  English  snipe  you  are  undoubtedly 
correct,  but  this  is  due  probably  to  their  increasing 
scarcity ;  and  although  we  have  no  spring,  and  the 
summer  extends  frequently  into  September,  this  ap- 
pears to  result  from  the  changes  in  climate  effected 
by  clearing  the  woods.  As  the  forests  are  cut  down, 
the  cold  winds  of  spring,  and  the  burning  suns  of 
summer,  produce  a  greater  effect,  and  each  in  its 
turn  lasts  longer.  Altogether,  however,  our  seasons 
seem  to  be  moderating." 

At  this  interesting  point  in  our  discussion,  some 
one  discovered  by  the  aid  of  a  telescope  that  a  flock 
of  willet  had  settled  on  the  sand-bank  among  the 
stools.  The  announcement  was  followed  by  a  gene- 
ral seizure  of  weapons  and  rush  for  the  blinds.  My 
friend  and  myself  hastened  to  the  little  boat,  used  in 
floating  quietly  down  upon  ducks,  and  called  a 
"  sneak  box,"  and  embarking,  glided  silently  to- 
wards our  stand.  The  tide  had  left  bare  a  long 
bank  of  sand,  upon  which  was  collected  a  glorious 
flock,  or,  more  properly  speaking,  two  flocks  united, 
one  of  raarlin  and  the  other  of  willet. 

All  unconscious  of  approaching  danger,  the  pretty 
creatures  were  busily  engaged,  some  in  feeding, 
others  in  washing — dipping  under  and  throwing  the 
water  over  their  graceful  bodies — others  in  running 


THE  JERSEY  COAST.  115 

actively  about,  or  jumping  up  and  taking  short  flights 
to  dry  their  wings.  A  happy  murmur  ran  through 
the  flock,  and  so  innocent  and  beautiful  were  they 
that  we  remained  watching  them  in  silent  admi- 
ration, unwilling  to  disturb  the  romance  of  the 
charming  scene.  The  rich  brown  feathers  of  the 
imposing  marlin  formed  an  exquisite  contrast  to  the 
white  and  black  of  the  elegant  willet,  as  the  different 
species  mixed  unreservedly  together. 

They  did  not  exhibit  the  slightest  alarm  when  our 
boat,  after  we  had  ceased  rowing,  was  borne  towards 
them  by  the  wind,  and  allowed  us  to  approach  till  it 
grounded  on  the  flat.  Having  feasted  our  eyes  on 
the  magnificent  spectacle,  we  at  last  gave  the  word 
to  fire.  At  the  report  they  rose  wildly,  and  receiving 
the  second  discharge,  made  the  best  of  their  way  to 
safer  quarters.  Both  barrels  of  my  friend's  gun 
missed  fire,  and  we  gathered  only  seven  birds,  as  the 
flock,  although  numbering  at  least  seventy  birds, 
was  widely  scattered  and  offered  a  poor  mark. 

No  sooner  were  we  again  ensconced  in  our  blind, 
than  the  exhilarating  sport  of  the  morning  was 
renewed — sport  such  as  only  those  who  have  tried  it 
can  appreciate — sport  that  makes  the  heart  beat  and 
the  nerves  tingle — sport  that  overweighs  humanity 
and  compels  the  remorseless  slaughter  of  these  beau- 
tiful birds.  Flock  after  flock,  seen  at  great  distance, 
and  watched  in  their  approach  through  changing 
hopes  and  fears,  or  darting  unexpectedly  from  over 
our  heads  and  first  noticed  when  rushing  with  ex- 
tended wings  down  to  our  stools,  presented  their 


116  THE  JERSEY  COAST. 

crowded  ranks  to  our  delighted  gaze.  From  the 
very  clouds,  would  come  the  shrill  whistle  of  the 
yelper,  or  from  the  horizon,  the  long  shriek  of  the 
willet,  or  nearer  at  hand  would  be  heard  the  plain- 
tive note  of  the  gentle  dowitcher ;  they  appeared 
from  all  quarters,  sailing  low  along  the  water  or 
pitching  directly  down  from  out  the  sky. 

Towards  evening  the  flight  diminished,  and  when 
the  horn  announced  that  supper  was  ready,  the  dif- 
ferent parties  met  once  more  at  the  house  to  compare 
notes  and  relate  adventures.  All  had  met  with 
excellent  success,  but  our  stand  carried  oif  the  palm. 

"  Bill,"  commenced  some  unhappy  person,  after 
we  had  left  the  close,  hot  dining-room,  "  why  do  you 
not  enlarge  your  house  ?" 

"Bill  is  waiting  for  another  wreck,"  was  the 
volunteer  response ;  "  the  whole  coast  is  fed,  clothed, 
and  sheltered  by  the  wrecks.  The  house  is  built 
from  the  remnants  of  unfortunate  ships,  as  you  per- 
ceive by  the  name-boards  of  the  Avion,  Pilgrim, 
Samuel  Willets,  J.  Harthorn,  and  Johanna,  that  form 
so  conspicuous  a  part  of  the  front  under  the  porch. 
When  a  vessel  is  driven  ashore,  and  the  crew  and 
passengers  who  are  not  quite  dead  are  disposed  of 
by  the  aid  of  a  stone  in  the  corner  of  a  handkerchief, 
which  makes  an  unsuspicious  bruise,  the  prize  is 
fought  for  by  the  natives,  and  not  only  the  cargo, 
but  the  very  ribs  and  planks  of  the  vessel  appro- 
priated." 

"  Now  that's  not  fair,"  replied  Bill,  aroused ;  "  no 
,  except  my  father-in-law,  has  done  more  to  save 


THE  JERSEY  COAST.  117 

drowning  men  than  I  have.  I  tell  you  it's  an  awful 
sight  to  see  the  poor  creatures  clinging  to  the  rig- 
ging and  bowsprit,  to  see  them  washed  off  before 
your  eyes,  sometimes  close  to  you,  without  your 
being  able  to  help  them,  and  their  dead  bodies 
thrown  up  by  the  waves  on  the  sand.  You  don't 
feel  like  stealing  or  murder  at  such  times;  and 
besides,  I  never  knew  a  dead  man  come  ashore  that 
had  anything  in  his  pockets." 

A  peal  of  laughter  greeted  this  naive  remark,  toge- 
ther with  the  ready  response  :  "  Bill,  you  were  too 
late ;  some  Barnegat  pirate  had  been  before  you." 

"  No,  the  Barnegat  pirates  are  kinder  than  the 
Government.  We  do  our  best  to  save  the  poor 
fellows,  but  the  Government  puts  men  in  charge 
of  their  station-houses  that  know  nothing  about 
their  business.  My  father-in-law  was  the  first  man 
that  threw  a  line  with  the  cannon  over  a  ship,  and 
he  was  presented  with  a  medal  by  the  Humane 
Society.  He  never,  was  paid  a  dollar  for  taking 
charge  of  the  station,  the  life-boat,  and  the  cannon. 
Since  he  died  I  kept  it  for  five  years,  and  was  paid 
two  years ;  now  men  are  selected  for  their  politics. 
One  lives  back  on  the  main  land  two  miles  from  his 
station-house,  another  never  fired  a  gun,  and  a  third 
never  rowed  a  boat.  The  last  got  a  crew  of  us  toge- 
ther once  to  go  out  to  a  ship  in  the  life-boat  and 
undertook  to  steer,  but  we  told  him  not  one  of  us 
would  go  unless  he  stayed  on  shore.  It  is  a  dan- 
gerous thing  to  have  a  green  hand  at  the  helm,  or 
even  at  an  oar,  in  times  like  that." 


118  THE   JERSEY  COAST. 

"  How  far  can  you  reach  a  ship  with  the  cannon  ?" 
we  inquired. 

"  The  line,  you  know,  is  fastened  to  the  ball  with  a 
short  wire,  so  that  it  won't  burn  off,  and  is  coiled  up 
beside  the  gun,  and  of  course  it  keeps  the  ball  back, 
and  then  people  forget  we  always  have  to  fire  against 
the  wind,  as  vessels  are  never  wrecked  with  the  wind 
off  shore ;  so  although  the  guns  are  expected  to 
carry  five  hundred  yards,  they  will  not  carry  more 
than  one  hundred  and  eighty.  That  is  enough, 
though,  if  they  only  have  the  right  sort  of  men  to 
manage  them ;  but  how  is  a  landsman  to  tell  whether 
he  must  use  the  cannon  or  is  safe  in  going  off  in  the 
boat  ?  In  one  case,  while  the  station-master  was  try- 
ing to  drag  his  cannon  down  to  a  ship,  a  party  of  us 
took  a  common  boat  and  landed  her  crew  and  pas- 
sengers before  he  arrived.  I  don't  care  about 
the  pay,  for  I  kept  it  three  years  without ;  but  I 
hate  to  see  lives  sacrificed  for  politics.  Would 
you  like  to  see  the  medal  they  gave  to  the  old 
man  ?" 

We  responded  in  the  affirmative ;  and  he  soon  pro- 
duced a  silver  medal,  with  an  inscription  on  one  side 
recording  the  circumstances,  and  on  the  other  an 
embossed  picture  of  a  ship  in  distress,  a  cannon  from 
which  the  ball  and  rope  attached  had  been  dis- 
charged and  were  visible  in  mid  air,  several  men 
standing  around  the  gun,  and  a  life-boat  climbing 
the  seas. 

"  But,  Bill,  tell  us  about  the  Barnegat  pirates 
leading  a  lame  horse  with  a  lantern  tied  to  his  neck 


THE  JERSEY  COAST.  119 

over  the  sand  hills  in  imitation  of  a  ship's  light,  and 
thus  invaigling  vessels  ashore." 

"  I  can  only  say  I  have  never  heard  of  it.  As 
quick  as  a  vessel  comes  ashore,  the  insurance  agent 
is  telegraphed  for,  and  he  takes  charge  of  everything. 
Why,  we  even  buy  the  wrecks  and  pay  well  for 
them,  too.  •  Now  and  then  something  is  washed  up 
like  that  coal  in  front  of  the  house,  but  it  is  not 
often." 

"  What  do  you  mean  by  the  stations  ?" 

"  They  are  houses  built  by  the  Government  and 
placed  at  regular  distances  along  the  beach.  The 
gun,  and  rope,  and  life-boat,  and  life-car,  and  all 
other  things  that  are  needed  in  case  of  shipwreck, 
are  kept  in  them.  Then  there  is  a  stove  and  coal 
ready  to  make  a  fire,  for  if  a  poor  wretch  got  ashore 
in  mid-winter  he  would  soon  freeze  if  he  couldn't  get 
to  a  fire.  And  if  the  man  who  has  charge  of  the 
station  lives  two  miles  off  across  a  bay  that  he  can't 
cross  in  a  bad  storm,  what  can  the  poor  half-drowned 
fellows  do,  if  they  are  too  much  benumbed  to  break 
open  the  door  ?  I'd  stave  it  in  for  them  pretty  quick 
if  I  was  there,  law  or  no  law." 

"  It  is  a  shame  that  a  matter  like  that  should  not 
be  free  from  politics." 

"  So  it  was  once,"  Bill  went  on  fluently ;  for  on 
this  subject  he  felt  that  his  family  had  a  right  to  be 
eloquent ;  "  at  one  time  some  department  had  it  in 
charge  that  never  would  either  appoint  or  remove  a 
man  on  political  account ;  but  that  is  all  changed 
now,  and  the  men  are  expected  to  go  out  with  every 


120  THE  JERSEY  COAST. 

administration,  and  shipwrecked  passengers  die 
while  political  favorites  draw  the  two  hundred  dol- 
lars a  year  pay  for  the  station-master." 

"  Now,  Bill,  stop  your  talk  about  the  public 
wrongs,  and  tell  us  something  more  interesting. 
Have  you  ever  heard  one  of  Bill's  ghost  stories  ?" 
This  inquiry  was  addressed  to  the  public. 

Bill's  face  lengthened  ;  he  sat  silently  nursing  his 
leg  and  smoking  his  brierwood  pipe,  while  a  shadow 
seemed  to  settle  on  his  countenance.  "  Come,  Bill," 
we  responded,  "  let's  have  the  story." 

Bill  answered  not,  and  the  shadow  deepened,  and 
the  smoke  was  puffed  in  heavier  masses  from  his 
lips. 

"  Bill  is  afraid ;  he  don't  like  ghosts,  and  don't 
dare  to  talk  of  them." 

"  I  am  not  easily  skeered,"  he  answered  at  last ; 
"  but  if  you  had  seen  what  I  have  on  this  shore,  you 
would  not  talk  so  easy  about  it  'Lige,.  do  you  re- 
member the  time  we  saw  that  ship  ?  There  had  been 
a  heavy  storm,  and  when  we  got  up  next  day  early, 
there  lay  a  vessel  on  the  beach ;  she  must  have  been 
most  everlastingly  a  harpin'  it." 

"  What  is  that  ?"  was  asked  wonderingly,  on  the 
utterance  of  this  peculiar  expression. 

"  Why,  she  had  come  clear  in  over  the  bar,  and 
must  have  been  going  some  to  do  that ;  for  there 
she  lay,  bow  on,  with  her  bowsprit  sticking  way  up 
ashore,  just  below  the  station  yonder.  Her  masts 
were  standing,  and  we  clapped  on  our  clothes  and 
started  for  the  beach.  The  wind  was  blowin'  hard, 


THE  JERSEY  COAST.  121 

and  the  sand  and  drizzle  driving  in  our  faces  as  we 
walked  over,  and  we  kept  our  heads  down  most  of 
the  time.  "When  we  got  to  the  sand-hills  we  looked 
up,  and  the  ship  was  gone.  I  thought  that  likely 
enough,  for  she  must  have  broken  up  and  gone  to 
pieces  soon  in  that  surf,  so  we  hurried  along  as  fast 
as  we  could ;  and  sure  enough,  when  we  rounded 
the  point,  the  little  cove  in  which  she  lay  was  full  of 
truck.  'Lige  was  there,  and  he  saw  it  as  plain  as  I 
did.  The  water  was  full  of  drift-boxes,  barrels, 
planks,  and  all  sorts  of  things,  pitching  and  rolling 
about ;  and  some  of  them  had  been  carried  up  onto 
the  sand  and  were  strewed  about  in  all  directions. 

"  It  was  early,  and  the  day  was  misty,  but  we 
could  see  plain  enough,  and  we  saw  all  that  stuff 
knocking  about  as  plain  as  1  see  you  now.  There 
was  a  big  timber  in  my  way — a  stick — well,  thirty 
feet  long  and  two  feet  or  two  and  a  half  square,  so 
that  I  had  to  raise  my  foot  high  to  clear  It ;  I  step- 
ped one  leg  over,  and  drew  the  other  along  to  feel 
it,  but  it  didn't  touch  anything ;  then  I  stopped  and 
looked  down — there  was  no  timber  there  ;  1  looked 
back  towards  the  sea — the  drift  had  disappeared,  the 
barrels  and  boxes  and  truck  of  one  sort  or  another 
was  gone.  There  was  nothing  on  shore  nor  in  the 
water.  Now  you  may  laugh,  but  'Lige  knows 
whether  what  I've  told  you  is  true." 

"  Bill,  that  is  a  pretty  good  story,  but  it  is  not  the 
one  I  meant,"  persisted  the  individual  who  had  com- 
menced the  attack. 

"  Well,  another  time,  Zeph  and  I  were  at  work 
6 


122  THE  JERSEY   COAST. 

getting  the  copper  bolts  out  of  an  old  wreck,  when 
we  happened  to  look  up  and  saw  two  carriages 
coming  along,  up  the  beach.  I  spoke  to  Zeph  about 
it,  but  as  they  catne  along  slowly,  we  went  on  with 
our  work,  and  when  we  looked  up  again  there  was 
only  one.  That  came  on  closer  and  closer  till  I 
could  tell  the  horses  ;  they  were  two  bays  of  squire 
Jones'  down  at  the  inlet ;  they  drove  right  on  to- 
wards us  till  they  were  so  near  that  T  did  not  like 
to  stare  the  people  in  the  face,  and  looked  down 
again  to  my  work.  There  were  two  men,  and  I  saw 
them  so  plain  that  I  should  know  'em  anywhere. 
Well,  I  raised  my  head  a  second  after,  and  they 
were  gone  ;  and  there  never  had  been  any  wagon, 
for  Zeph  and  I  hunted  all  over  the  beach  to  find  the 
tracks  in  the  sand." 

"  I  guess  that  was  another  misty  day,  and  you 
hadn't  had  your  eye-opener,"  was  the  appreciative 
response. 

"  No,  it  was  three  o'clock  in  the  day,  and  bright 
sunshine  ;  but  at  that  time,  as  near  as  can  be,  Tommy 
Smith  was  drowned  down  at  the  inlet,  and  the  very 
next  day  at  the  very  same  hour,  the  'Squire's  wagon 
did  come  up  the  beach,  with  the  same  two 
men  driving,  and  the  body  in  a  box  in  the  back 
part." 

"  Now,  Bill,"  continued  the  persistent  individual, 
"  this  is  all  very  well,  but  it  is  not  the  story.  Come, 
out  with  it ;  you  know  what  I  mean." 

Bill  fell  silent,  again  looking  off  into  the  distance 
as  though  he  saw  something  that  others  could  not 


THE  JERSEY   COAST.  123 

see ;  he  pulled  away  nervously  on  his  pipe,  which 
had  gone  out,  but  answered  not. 

"  Bill's  afraid  ;"  was  the  tantalizing  suggestion. 

"There's  Sam,"  said  Bill  suddenly ;  "he's  not  afeard 
of  man  or  devil ;  ask  him  what  he  saw." 

The  person  referred  to  was  a  large,  broad-shoul- 
dered, pleasant-faced  man,  with  a  clear  blue  eye  that 
looked  as  though  it  would  not  quail  easily,  and  he 
responded  at  once  : 

"  I  never  saw  anything  ;  but  one  night  when  I  was 
coming  by  the  cove  where  the  Johanna  was  cast 
away,  and  where  three  hundred  bodies  were  picked 
up  and  buried,  I  heard  a  loud  scream.  It  sounded 
like  a  woman's  voice,  and  was  repeated  three  or 
four  times ;  but  I  couldn't  find  anything,  although  I 
spent  an  hour  hunting  among  the  sand-hills,  'and  it 
was  blight  moonlight.  It  may  have  been  some  sort 
of  animal,  but  I  don't  know  exactly  what." 

"  Bill's  adventure  happened  in  the  same  neighbor- 
hood, so  let's  have  it,"  continued  the  persistent 
man. 

"  As  Sam  says,"  commenced  Bill,  at  last,  "  the 
Johanna  went  ashore  one  awful  north-easter  in  winter 
about  six  miles  above  here,  near  Old  Jackey's  tavern  ; 
she  broke  up  before  we  could  do  anything  for  her, 
and  three  hundred  men,  women,  and  children — for 
she  was  an  emigrant  ship — were  washed  ashore  dur- 
ing the  following  week ;  most  of  them  had  been 
drifted  by  the  set  of  the  tide  into  the  cove,  and  they 
were  buried  there ;  so  you  see  it  ain't  a  nice  place  of 
a  dark  night. 


124  .THE  JERSEY  COAST. 

"  I  was  driving  down  the  beach  about  a  year  after 
she  was  lost,  with  my  old  j  agger  wagon,  and  a  heavy 
load  on  of  groceries  and  stores  of  one  kind  or  other. 
It  was  about  one  o'clock  at  night,  mighty  cold,  but 
bright  moonlight ;  and  I  was  coming  along  by  the 
corner  of  the  fence,  you  know,  just  above  Jackey's, 
when  the  mare  stopped  short.  Now,  she  was  just 
the  best  beast  to  drive  you  ever  saw.  I  could  drive 
her  into  the  bay  or  right  over  into  the  ocean,  and 
she  was  never  skeered  at  anything.  But  this  time, 
she  come  right  back  in  the  shafts  and  began  to  trem- 
ble all  over ;  I  gave  her  a  touch  of  the  whip,  and  she 
was  just  as  full  of  spirit  as  a  horse  need  be,  but  she 
only  reared  up  and  snorted  and  trembled  worse  than 
ever.  So  I  knew  something  must  be  wrong,  and 
looked  ahead  pretty  sharp ;  and  there,  sure  enough, 
right  across  the  road,  lay  a  man.  Jackey  was  a  little 
too  fond  of  rum  at  that  time,  and  I  made  up  my 
mind  he  had  got  drunk  and  tumbled  down  .on  his 
way  home ;  it  was  cold,  and  I  didn't  want  to  get 
out  of  the  wagon  where  I  was  nicely  tucked  in,  and 
thought  I  would  drive  round  out  of  the  road  and 
wake  him  up  with  my  whip  as  I  passed.  I  tried  to 
pull  the  mare  off  to  one  side  to  go  by,  but  she  only 
reared  and  snorted  and  trembled,  so  that  I  was 
afraid  she  would  fall.  She  had  a  tender  mouth,  but 
although  I  pulled  my  best  I  could  not  budge  her ; 
at  last,  getting  mad,  I  laid  the  gad  over  her  just  as 
hard  as  I  could  draw  it.  Instead  of  obeying  the 
rein,  however,  she  plunged  straight  on,  made  a  tre- 
mendous leap  over  the  body,  and  dragged  the  wagon 


THE  JERSEY  COAST.  125 

after  her.  I  pulled  her  in  all  I  knew  how,  and  no 
mistake  ;  but  it  was  no  use,  and  I  felt  the  front  wheels 
strike,  lift,  and  go  over  him,  and  then  the  hind 
wheels,  but  I  couldn't  stop  her.  That  was  a  heavy 
load,  and  enough  to  crush  any  one,  and  as  soon  as  I 
could  fetch  the  mare  down — for  she  had  started  to 
run — I  jumped  out  quick  enough  then,  you  may  bet 
your  life.  I  tied  her  up  to  the  fence,  although  she 
was  still  so  uneasy  I  daresen't  hardly  leave  her,  and 
hurried  back  to  see  if  I  could  do  anything  for  Jackey. 
Would  you  believe  it,  there  was  nothing  there  !  I 
tell  you  I  felt  the  wagon  go  over  him,  and  what's 
more,  I  looked  down  as  I  passed  and  saw  his  clothes 
and  his  hair  straggling  out  over  the  snow,  for  he  had 
no  hat  on  ;  though  I  noticed  at  the  time  that  I  didn't 
see  any  flesh,  but  supposed  his  face  was  turned  from 
me.  There  was  no  rise  in  the  ground  and  not  a 
cloud  in  the  sky  ;  the  moon  was  nearly  full,  and  there 
wasn't  any  man,  and  never  had  been  any  man  there ; 
but  whatever  there  was,  the  mare  saw  it  as  plain  as 
I  did." 

"  Now  let's  turn  in,"  said  a  sleepy  individual,  who 
had  first,  been  nodding  over  Bill's  statement  of  pub- 
lic wrongs,  and  had  taken  several  short  naps  in  the 
course  of  his  ghost  story  ;  "  and  as  there  was  some- 
thing said  yesterday  about  a  smoke  driving  away 
mosquitoes,  for  heaven's  sake  let's  make  a  big  one ; 
the  infernal  pests  kept  me  awake  all  last  night." 

This  was  excellent  advice,  and  not  only  was  an 
entire  newspaper  consumed  in  our  common  sleeping 
apartment,  but  a  quantity  of  powder  was  squibbed 


126  THE  JERSEY  COAST. 

ofl,  till  the  place  smelt  like  the  antechamber  of  Tar- 
tarus. The  mosquitoes  were  expelled  or  silenced  at 
the  cost  of  a  slight  suffocation  to  ourselves,  but  we 
gained  several  hours  sleep  till  the  smoke  escaped  and 
allowed  the  villains  to  return  to  their  prey. 

One  sporting  day  resembles  another  in  its  essen- 
tial features,  although  not  often  so  entirely  as  with 
the  Englishman,  who,  having  devoted  his  life  to 
woodcock  shooting,  and  being  called  upon  to  relate 
his  experiences,  replied  that  he  had  shot  woodcock 
for  forty  years,  but  never  noticed  anything  worth  re- 
cording. Our  next  day,  however,  was  enlivened  by 
sport  of  an  unexpected  kind.  We  had  heard  there 
was  some  dispute  about  the  ownership  of  the  stands  ; 
in  fact,  that  the  one  occupied  by  my  friend  and  my- 
self belonged  to  the  Ortleys,  a  family  represented 
as  decidedly  uninviting;  while  both  Bill  and  the 
Ortleys  claimed  that,  where  another  party  was 
located. 

In  the  disputed  stand  were  Bill,  a  New  York  gen- 
tleman, who,  as  events  proved,  seemed  to  be  some- 
thing of  an  athlete,  and  a  sedate,  unimpassionable  Jer- 
sey lawyer  of  considerable  eminence.  Elijah  was 
with  us,  when  two  villanous,  red-haired,  freckle- 
skinned  objects  presented  themselves,  and,  after 
some  preliminary  remarks  and  a  refusal  on  their 
part  of  a  friendly  glass,  which  is  a  desperate  sign  in 
a  Jerseyman,  mildly  suggested  that  they  would  like 
a  little  remuneration  for  the  use  of  the  stand.  As 
their  suggestion  was  moderate,  reasonable,  and  just, 
and  they  undoubtedly  owned  the  land,  we  complied, 


THE  JERSEY  COAST.  127 

and  beheld  them  proceed,  to  Elijah's  great  delight, 
for  the  same  purpose  towards  the  other  stand.  Elijah 
prophetically  announced  they  would  probably  get 
more  than  they  demanded. 

The  other  stand  was  distant  about  a  hundred 
yards,  in  full  view,  and  we  perceived  at  once  that  a 
commotion  was  caused  by  the  unexpected  arrival. 
The  athletic  man  was  shortly  seen  outside  the  blind, 
flinging  his  arms  wildly  about  in  front  of  the  two 
Ortley  brothers,  and,  as  we  were  afterwards  inform- 
ed, offering  to  fight  either  or  both  of  them.  Matters 
then  seemed  to  progress  more  favorably,  till  sud- 
denly Bill  and  the  younger  Ortley  emerged,  locked 
in  an  unfriendly  embrace,  and  commenced  dragging 
each  other  round  the  sand-bank,  while  the  demon- 
strative sportsman  was  seen  dancing  actively  in  front 
of  the  other  Ortley,  and  preventing  his  interference. 

Of  course  we  dropped  our  guns  and  hastened 
across  the  shallow,  intervening  water,  having  just 
time  to  perceive  that  Bill  had  thrown  his  adversary 
and  remained  on  top.  The  first  words  we  heard  were: 
"Take  him  off!  Oh,  my  God!  take  him  off. 
Enough,  enough,  take  him  off,"  from  the  one  on  the 
ground,  whose  eye — the  only  vulnerable  part  to  un- 
instructed  anger — Bill  was  busily  endeavoring  to 
gouge  out,  while  the  other  shouted  frantically: 
"  He  is  killing  my  brother ;  let  me  get  to  him  ;  he  is 
gouging  his  eye  out.  He  will  kill  him,  he  will  kill 
him." 

"  Never  mind,"  answered  the  athletic  man,  swing- 
ing his  arms  ominously,  and  dexterously  interposing 


128  THE  JERSEY  COAST. 

between  the  victim  and  his  brother,  whenever  the 
latter  attempted  to  dodge  past  him.  "  Let  him  be 
killed,  it  would  serve  him  right ;  he  came  over  here 
for  a  fight,  and  he  shall  have  enough  of  it  if  both  of 
his  eyes  are  gouged  out." 

Elijah  arrived  in  time  to  prevent  the  latter  cata- 
strophe, and  being  of  a  peaceable  and  humane  dispo- 
sition, pulled  off  his  brother  before  anything  more 
serious  than  a  little  scratching  had  occurred.  In 
fact,  there  is  no  position  in  which  ignorance  renders 
a  person  more  pitiably  inefficient,  than  in  fighting ; 
and,  while  a  skilful  man  could  have  killed  his  oppo- 
nent during  the  time  Bill  had  enjoyed,  the  latter  had 
really  effected  nothing  worth  mentioning.  The  ugly 
wretch  was  awfully  frightened,  however ;  his  face 
being  ghostly  pale,  streaked  with  bloody  red,  and  he 
commenced  whining  at  once : 

"  I  am  nothing  but  a  boy,  only  twenty-two  last 
spring,  and  he's  a  man  grown." 

"You  know  boys  have  to  be  whipped  to  keep 
them  in  order,"  was  the  consolatory  response ;  for 
we  naturally  took  part  with  our  landlord. 

"  Gentlemen,  just  look  at  me." 

"  Don't  come  so  close,  you're  covered  with  blood ; 
keep  back,  keep  back." 

"  But  look  at  me ;  he's  bigger  than  I  arn,  and  I  am 
only  a  boy." 

"  Then  you  shouldn't  strike  a  man." 

"  Oh !  gentlemen,  I  didn't  strike  him  first,  indeed 
I  didn't ;  he  struck  me  when  I  wasn't  thinking ;  in- 
deed he  did." 


THE  JERSEY  COAST.  129 

"Yes,"  broke  in  his  brother,  who  was  just  re- 
covering from  the  spell  first  put  upon  him  by  our 
athlete's  continual  offers  to  accommodate  him  in 
any  way  he  wished.  "  ires,  it  will  .be  a  dear  blow 
for  you ;  I  saw  you  strike  him." 

"  No,"  said  the  lawyer,  advancing  for  the  first  time 
from  behind  the  blind  where  he  had  been  an  unmoved 
and  impartial  umpire  of  the  fray,  "  you  should  not 
say  that ;  your  brother  certainly  struck  first ;  I  saw 
him  distinctly."  His  manner  was  solemn,  and  con- 
vincing, and  conclusive,  taken  in  connexion  with 
his  perfect  equanimity  during  the  affair ;  but,  of 
course,  he  was  met  by  contradiction  and  protesta- 
tion from  the  two  brothers.  This  dispute  would 
have  been  endless,  but  at  that  moment  a  fine  flock 
of  willets  was  descried  advancing  towards  the 
stools. 

"  Down,  down,"  every  one  shouted,  and,  true  to 
the  bayman's  instinct,  friend  and  foe  crowded  down 
on  the  sand  together,  waiting  breathlessly  the  arri- 
val of  the  birds.  The  latter  came  up  handsomely, 
were  received  with  four  barrels,  and  left  several  of 
their  number  as  keepsakes  or  peace-offerings ;  for, 
of  course,  anger  was  dissipated,  and  the  defeated 
enemy  retired  amid  a  few  merry  suggestions,  and 
the  excellent  advice  that  they  had  better  not  repeat 
their  joke. 

Such   squabbles — for   it   can   be   called    nothing 

graver — lower  one's  opinion  of  human  kind,  and  it 

makes  one  ashamed  to  think  that  two  men  may  hug 

and  pull  one  another  about,  and  roll  on  the  sand  for 

6* 


130  THE  JERSEY  COAST. 

fifteen  minutes,  with  the  best  will  in  the  world  to 
do  each  other  all  the  damage  possible,  and  only  in- 
flict, in  the  feebleness  of  uneducated  humanity,  a  few 
miserable  scratches.  Any  of  the  lower  animals 
would,  in  that  time,  have  left  serious  marks  of  its 
anger ;  but  the  pitiful  results  of  these  human  efforts 
were,  that  Bill's  beard  was  pulled  and  Ortley's  face 
scratched.  It  makes  one  blush  to  think  he  is  a 
man. 

As  our  party  returned  to  the  blind  we  had  left, 
Elijah  spoke,  softly  ruminating  aloud : 

"  Well,  it  only  costs  thirty-five  dollars  anyhow, 
and  it  was  worth  that." 

Our  humane,  peaceable  friend,  it  seems,  had  been 
cast  in  a  similar  case,  and  had  to  pay  six  cents 
damages  and  thirty-five  dollars  costs  of  court. 
There  is  probably  nothing  that  has  so  soothing  and 
pacifying  an  influence  on  the  New  Jersey  mind  as 
costs  of  court.  The  words  alone  act  like  a  charm  upon  ^ 
a  Jerseyman  in  the  acme  of  frenzy,  and  are  as  effec- 
tive as  a  policeman  in  uniform.  If  a  man  commits 
assault  and  battery,  he  is  fined  six  cents  damages 
and  costs  of  court ;  if  he  is  guilty  of  trespass  it  is 
the  same  ;  if  he  kisses  his  neigh  boi''s  wife  against 
her  will,  if  he  slanders  a  friend's  character,  it  is 
always  six  cents  damages  and  costs  of  court ;  and 
Jerseymen  will  probably  expect  in  the  next  world 
to  get  off  with  six  cents  damages  and  costs  of  court. 

The  shooting  was  excellent  during  the  whole  day, 
and  evening  found  us  collected  in  the  bar-i;oom,  well 
satisfied  and  particularly  jocose  over  the  amusing 


THE  JERSEY   COAST.  131 

pugilistic  encounter  we  had  witnessed.  It  lent  point 
to  many  a  good  hit  at  Bill's  expense;  even  his  wife, 
who  is  a  fine,  resolute-looking  woman,  saying  that 
if  she  had  seen  it  sooner,  she  would  have  taken  a 
broomstick  and  flogged  them  both.  The  general 
impression  was,  she  could  have  made  her  words 
good. 

The  pleasure  of  indulging  in  fun  at  the  expense  of 
a  fellow-creature  is  very  great,  and  Bill's  adventure 
was  certainly  fair  game.  When  our  wit  was  ex- 
hausted, and  the  craving  for  tobacco  mollified  by  the 
steady  use  of  our  pipes,  our  thoughts  and  voices 
turned  to  our  never-wearying  passion,  and  one  of 
the  party  commenced : 

"I  have  shot  a  number  of  the  birds  you  call 
kriekers ;  they  are  a  fat  bird,  but  do  not  seem  to 
stool.  I  have  never  before  shot  them,  except  occa- 
sionally on  the  meadows." 

"  They  don't  stool,"  said  Bill,  "  and  only  utter  a 
kriekiug  kind  of  cry ;  but  in  October  they  come 
here  very  thick,  and  we  walk  them  up  over  the 
meadows.  Why,  you  can  shoot  a  hundred  a  day." 

"A  most  excellent  bird  they  are,  too — fat  and 
delicate.  They  are  the  latest  of  the  bay-snipe  in  re- 
turning from  the  summer  breeding-places;  and  as 
they  rise  and  fly  from  you,  they  afford  extremely 
pretty  shooting.  They  are  sometimes  called  short- 
neck,  and  are,  in  a  gastronomic  point  of  view,  the 
best  bay-snipe  that  is  put  upon  the  table." 

"  We  call  the  bay-birds  usually  snipe,"  said  the 
first  speaker ;  "  but  I  have  been  told  they  are  not 


132  THE  JERSEY   COAST. 

snipe  at  all.  Refer  to  Giraud  again  and  give  us  the 
truth." 

This  fell,  of  course,  to  my  share,  and  I  com- 
menced as  follows : 

"  I  read  you  yesterday  about  the  plovers,  and  im- 
mediately after  them  we  find  an  account  of  the  turn- 
stone,  strepsilas  interpres,  which  is  nothing  else  than 
our  beautiful  brant-bird  or  horse-foot  snipe,  as  it  is 
called  farther  south,  because  it  feeds  on  the  spawn 
of  the  horse-foot.  This  pretty  but  unfortunate  bird 
belongs  to  no  genus  whatever,  and  has  been  to  the 
ornithologists  a  source  of  great  tribulation.  They 
have  sometimes  considered  it  a  sandpiper  and 
sometimes  not,  so  you  may  probably  call  it  what 
you  please  ;  and  as  brant-bird  is  a  rhythmical  name, 
it  will  answer  as  well  as  strepsilas  interpres  /  if  you 
have  not  a  fluent  tongue,  perhaps  somewhat  better. 
Of  the  snipes,  or  scolopacidce,  the  only  true  repre- 
sentative is  the  dowitcher,  scolopax  novebora- 
censis. 

"  Hold  on,"  shouted  Bill ;  "  say  that  last  word 
over  again." 

"  Nbveboracensis" 

"That  is  only  the  half  of  it;  let's  have  the 
whole." 

"  Scolopax  noveboracensis" 

"  Scoly  packs  never  borrow  a  census ;  that  is  a 
good  sized  name  for  a  little  dowitch,  and  beats  the 
radish  altogether.  Go  ahead,  we'll  learn  something 
before  we  get  through." 

"  Why,  that  is  only  Latin  for  New  York  snipe." 


THE  JERSEY   COAST.  133 

"  Oh,  pshaw !  "  responded  Bill,  in  intense  dis- 
gust, "I  thought  it  meant  a  whole  bookful  of 
things." 

"  The  sandpipers,  however,  come  under  the  family 
of  snipes,  and  are  called  tringce.  Among  these  are 
enumerated  the  robin-snipe  and  the  grass-plover,  as 
I  told  you  before,  the  black-breast,  the  krieker,  or 
short-neck,  and  several  scarcer  varieties.  The  yelp- 
ers  .and  yellow-legs,  the  tiny  teeter,  and  -the  willet 
are  tattlers,  genus  totanus,  while  the  marlin  is  the 
godwit  Umosa.  The  sickle-bills,  jacks,  andfutes  are 
curlews,  genus  numenius." 

"  And  now  that  you  have  got  through,"  grumbled 
Bill  again,  "  can  you  whistle  a  snipe  any  better  or 
shoot  him  any  easier  ?  Do  you  know  why  he  stools 
well  in  a  south-westerly  wind,  why  one  stools  better 
than  another,  or  why  any  of  them  stool  at  all  ?  Do 
you  know  why  he  flies  after  a  storm,  or  why  some 
go  in  flocks  and  others  don't,  or  why  there  is  usually 
a  flight  on  the  fifteenth  and  twenty-fifth  of  August? 
When  books  tell  us  these  things,  I  shall  think  more 
of  the  writers." 

"  These  matters  are  not  easy  to  find  out ;  even 
you  gunners,  who  have  been  on  the  bay  all  your 
lives,  where  your  fathers  lived  before  you,  do  not 
know.  But  now  tell  us  what  other  sport  you  have 
here." 

"  On  the  mainland  there  are  a  good  many  Eng- 
lish snipe  in  spring,  while  in  the  fall  we  catch  blue- 
fish  and  shoot  ducks.  The  black  ducks  and  teal 
will  soon  be  along ;  but  ever  since  the  inlet  was 


134  THE  JERSEY  COAST. 

closed,  the  canvas-backs  and  red-heads  have  been 

scarce." 

"  What  do  you  mean  by  the  inlet's  closing  ?" 
"  There  used  to  be  several  inlets  across  the  beach 

— one   about  ten   miles  below — and  then  we  had 

splendid  oysters  and  ducks  plenty.     There  came  a 

tremendous  storm  one  winter  that  washed  up  the 

•      * 

sand  and  closed  the  inlet,  and  so  it  has  remained 
ever  since." 

"  Can't  they  be  dredged  out  ?" 

"The  people  would  pay  a  fortune  to  any  man 
who  did  that,  if  he  could  keep  it  open.  In  the  fall, 
we  go  after  ducks  twenty  miles  when  we  want  any 
great  shooting;  but  we  kill  a  good  many  round, 
here." 

"  How  do  you  catch  the  blue-fish  that  you  spoke 
of?" 

"  They  chase  the  bony-fish  along  the  shore,  and 
when  they  come  close  in,  you  can  stand  on  the 
beach,  and  throw  the  squid  right  among  them.  I 
took  sixteen  hundred  pounds  in  half  a  day." 

"  Phew  !"  was  the  universal  chorus. 

"  'Lige  was  there,  and  he  knows  whether  that  is 
true.  They  averaged  fifteen  pounds  apiece.  On 
those  occasions,  the  only  question  is  whether  you 
know  how  to  land  them,  and  can  do  it  quick 
enough." 

"  Your  hands  must  have  been  cut  to  pieces." 

"  Not  at  all ;  you'll  never  cut  your  hands  if  you 
don't  let  the  line  slip." 

"  Did  you  run  up  ashore  with  them  ?  " 


THE  JERSEY  COAST.  135 

"  No,  I  had  no  time  for  that ;  I  landed  them,  hand 
over  hand." 

"  Well,  after  that  story  it's  time  we  went  to  bed ; 
so  good-night." 

During  that  night  the  mosquitoes,  bad  as  they 
had  been,  were  more  terrible  than  at  any  time  pre- 
vious. Favored  by  the  late  frequent  rains,  they 
had  become  more  numerous  than  had  ever  been 
known  on  the  beach ;  and  being  consequently  com- 
pelled to  subdivide  to  an  unusual  degree  the  ordi- 
narily small  supply  of  food,  they  were  savagely 
hungry.  Sleep  was  out  of  the  question,  and  after 
trying  all  sorts  of  devices  from  gunpowder  to  mos- 
quito-nets, the  party  wandered  out  of  doors,  and, 
scattering  in  search  of  a  place  of  retreat,  afforded  an 
excellent  representation  of  unhappy  ghosts  on  the 
banks  of  the  Styx.  The  shore,  near  the  surf,  and  the 
bathing-houses  had  heretofore  been  tolerably  secure 
resorts,  but,  on  this  unprecedented  night,  a  special 
meeting  of  mosquitoes  seemed  to  have  been  called  in 
that  neighborhood. 

Those  that  tried  the  ground,  and  covered  them- 
selves carefully  from  head  to  foot,  found  that  the 
enterprising  long-legs  disregarded  the  customary 
habits  of  their  race,  and  consented  to  crawl  down 
their  sleeves,  up  their  pants,  or  through  the  folds  of 
the  blanket.  The  sand-fleas  also  were  numerous 
and  lively,  bounding  about  in  an  unpleasantly  active 
way ;  and  where  there  were  neither  mosquitoes  nor 
sand-fleas,  the  nervous  sufferer  imagined  every  grain 


136  THE  JERSEY  COAST. 

of  stray  sand  that  sifted  in  through  his  clothes  to  be 
some  malignant,  blood-sucking,  insect. 

One  great  advantage,  however,  followed  from  this 
discomfort — that  we  were  up  betimes  next  morning 
and  ready  for  sport  that  soon  proved  equal  to  any 
we  had  experienced.  In  fact,  so  steady  and  well 
sustained  a  flight  of  large  birds  was  extremely  rare  ; 
before  our  arrival  the  shooting  had  been  good,  and 
since  excellent.  There  was  a  repetition  to  a  great 
extent  of  the  day  previous,  in  many  particulars  of 
flight,  number,  and  character  of  birds ;  in  infinite 
modification  of  circumstance,  there  was  an  incessant 
variety  of  bewildering  sport. 

No  two  birds  ever  approach  the  sportsman's  stand 
in  precisely  the  same  way,  and  there  is  one  round  of 
deliciously  torturing  uncertainty ;  the  flock  we  are 
most  certain  of  may  turn  off,  the  one  that  has  passed 
and  been  given  up.  may  return ;  the  bird  that  has 
been  carefully  covered  may  escape,  another  that 
seems  a  hopeless  chance  may  fall :  it  is  these  minute 
differences,  and  this  continual  variety,  that  lend  the 
principal  charm  to  the  sportsman's  life. 

At  midday  came  again  the  congregation  at  the 
house,  the  discussion  over  sporting  topics,  the  joke 
or  story,  and  the  comparison  of  luck.  Thus  passed 
the  days,  alike,  yet  different,  affording  undiminished 
pleasure,  excitement,  and  instruction,  with  sport 
admirably  adapted  to  the  hot  weather,  when  the 
cool,  shady  swamps  are  deserted  by  the  woodcock. 
The  English  snipe  have  not  yet  arrived  upon  the 
meadows,  and  the  fall  shooting  is  still  in  prospective ; 


THE  JERSEY  COAST.  137 

the  labor  is  easy,  the  body  can  be  kept  cool  by 
wading  for  dead  birds,  and  to  those  who  are,  at  the 
best,  not  vigorous,  bay-snipe  shooting  is  a  delightful 
resource. 

Never  did  mortals  pass  a  pleasanter  week  than 
that  week  at  the  beach,  and  it  is  impossible  to  chro- 
nicle all  the  good  shots,  to  repeat  all  the  amusing 
stories  or  merry  jokes,  or  to  record  all  the  valuable 
instruction  ;  and  to  obtain  an  inkling  even,  the  reader 
had  better  make  a  firm  resolve  that  next  August  will 
not  pass  over  his  head  without  his  devoting  at  least 
one  week  to  bay-snipe  shooting.  When  at  last  the 
time  came  to  part,  and  the  baggage  was  packed,  and 
the  guns  reluctantly  bestowed  in  their  cases,  we  bade 
our  farewell  with  sincere  regret,  praying  that  often 
thereafter  might  we  have  such  sport,  and  meet  such 
companionship. 

It  is  a  long  journey  to  the  beach,  but  it  is  a  longer 
one  back  again ;  no  high  hopes  buoy  up  the  traveller, 
regrets  accompany  him  instead — no  anticipation  of 
grand  sport,  but  the  gloomy  certainty  that  it  is  over 
for  the  year;  and  although  the  conveyance  to  the 
beach  is  irregular,  there  is  absolutely  none  away 
from  it.  It  is  true  there  are  several  different  routes 
to  and  from  it,  but  all  by  private  conveyance,  and, 
rendered  by  the  mosquitoes  nearly  impracticable. 

Bill  harnessed  his  ponies — for,  wonderful  to  say,  a 
few  horses  and  cattle  manage  to  live  on  the  beach 
and  sustain  existence  in  spite  of  the  mosquitoes — and 
we  stowed  ourselves  and  our  luggage  in  his  well 
worn  wagon.  The  road  lay  over  the  barren  beach, 


138  THE  JERSEY   COAST. 

deep  and  heavy  with  sand,  and  hardly  distinguishable 
after  a  heavy  rain ;  the  one-story  shanty,  that  had 
been  our  resting-place,  soon  faded  from  vieV,  and 
we  had  nothing  in  prospect  but  the  dreary  journey 
home. 

At  the  head  of  the  beach  we  encountered  a  bathing- 
party,  and  were  sorely  tempted  to  join  the  rollicking 
girls  in  a  frolic  among  the  breakers ;  but,  by  exerting 
great  self-denial,  and  shutting  our  eyes  to  their  attrac- 
tions, much  to  my  companion's  disgust,  we  kept  on 
our  course.  We  dined  at  the  tavern  on  the  road, 
and  having  bade  farewell  to  Bill,  and  engaged  ano- 
ther team,  we  reached  Crab  Town  by  dusk. 

How  changed  the  village  seemed  to  us  !  Where 
was  the  precious  and  beautiful  freight  that  had  paid 
us  such  delicious  toll  ?  Our  eyes  peered  up  and 
down  the  road,  and  into  the  windows  of  the  scat- 
tered houses ;  our  ears  listened  sharply  for  the  music 
of  merry  voices  and  ringing  laughter  ;  our  thoughts 
reverted  to  that  crowded  stage,  which  had  so  lately 
borne  us  through  the  village.  The  road  was  vacant 
and  desolate  ;  all  sound  was  hushed  and  still ;  grace- 
ful forms,  clad  in  yielding  drapery,  were  nowhere  to 
be  seen  ;  the  dull  lights  in  the  windows  revealed 
nothing  to  our  earnest  gaze.  Our  lovely  companions 
were  invisible,  although  we  pursued  our  search  per- 
sistently till  late  at  night,  when,  weary  and  discon- 
solate, we  crawled  up  to  bed  in  a  dismal  hostelry 
kept  by  Huntsinger.  Going  sporting  into  Jersey  is 
delightful,  but  returning  is  sad  indeed. 


BAY-BIRDS. 


139 


1.  Lower  mandible. 

2.  Upper  mandible. 

3.  Forehead. 

4.  Loral  space. 

5.  Crown  of  the  head. 

6.  Hind  part  of  the  head. 

7.  Scapulars  —  long    feathers 

from  shoulders  over  sides 
of  back. 

8.  Smaller  wing  coverts. 

9.  Bend  of  the  wing 
10.  Larger  wing  coverts. 


11.  Tertials,  arising  from  the 

second  bone  of  the  wing 
at  the  elbow-joint. 

12.  Secondaries,  from   the  se- 

cond bone  of  the  wing. 

13.  Primaries,    from    the   first 

bone  of  the  wing. 

14.  Tibia,  the  thigh. 

15.  Tarsus,  the  shank. 

16.  Upper  tail  coverts. 

17.  Lower  tail  coverts. 

18.  Tail  feathers. 


The  length  of  a  bird  is  measured  from  the  extremity  of  the 
bill  to  the  end  of  the  longest  tail  feather ;  the  length  of  the 
wing  is  measured  from  the  bend  to  the  tip  of  the  longest  quill. 


CHAPTER  V. 

BAY-BIRDS. 

ALTHOUGH  a  cursory  account  of  the  various  bay-birds, 
their  habits  and  peculiarities,  has  been  given  in  a 
previous  chapter,  it  seems  desirable  to  add  a  more 
complete,  exhaustive,  and  specific  description.  This 
is  attempted  in  the  following  pages,  and  although 
the  ornithological  characteristics  are  taken  from 
GiraucTs  JSirds  of  Long  Island,  which  seems  to 
have  been  the  resource  of  all  our  sporting  writers, 
nothing  else  is  derived  from  him;  but  the  facts  are 
stated,  either  upon  personal  knowledge,  which  is 
generally  the  case,  or  upon  reliable  information. 

As  to  the  abundance  or  scarcity  of  any  particu- 
lar species,  the  experience  of  sportsmen  will  differ 
according  to  the  accident  of  flight,  or  the  locality  of 
their  favorite  sporting-ground  ;  and  in  relation  to 
their  shyness  or  gentleness,  much  depends  upon  the 
time  of  year  and  the  condition  of  the  weather.  In 
consequence  of  the  confusion  of  nomenclature,  it  has 
been  deemed  advisable  to  give  the  scientific  descrip- 
tion of  the  common  species,  each  one  being  placed 
under  its  most  appropriate  name,  and  to  collect 
together  as  many  designations  as  could  be  found  to 
have  been  applied  to  them  respectively.  Never- 
theless, many  names  will  no  doubt  be  omitted,  and 


BAY-BIRDS.  141 

there  will  be  other  birds,  and  some  quite  common 
varieties,  that,  among  bay-men,  have  no  names  what- 
ever. 

It  is  not  intended  to  furnish  a  description  of  all 
the  species  of  shore-snipe  that  occasionally  are  killed, 
but  to  supply  such  information  as  will  enable  the 
sportsman  to  distinguish  the  ordinary  varieties ;  and 
such  facts  as  have  not  been  fully  stated,  which  are 
more  especially  applicable  to  certain  members  of  this 
great  class,  are  grouped  together  under  separate 
heads.  Nothing  is  expected  to  be  added  to  the 
ornithological  learning  of  the  world,  and  only  such 
portions  of  that  science  are  given  as  may  be  consi- 
dered desirable  for  the  ready  use  of  the  sportsman 
in  the  intelligent  pursuit  of  his  pleasures. 

PLOVERS. 
Genus  Charadrius,  Linn. 

Generic  distinctions. — Bill  short,  strong,  straight, 
about  the  length  of  the  head,  which  is  rather  large 
and  prominent  in  front ;  eyes  large  ;  body  full ;  neck 
short  and  rather  thick ;  wings  long ;  tail  rounded  and 
of  moderate  length ;  toes  connected  at  the  base ;  hind 
toe  wanting,  or  consisting  of  a  small  knob. 

BLACK-BKEAST. 

Bull-Headed  Plover.   Beetle-Headed  Plover.   Black-Bellied 

Plover. 

Charadrius  HelveticvA,  Wils. 

This  bird  is  killed  along  our  bays  indiscriminately 
with  the  other  snipe,  although  it  does  not  stool  as 


142  BAY-BIRDS 

well  as  the  marlin  or  yellow-legs.  It  passes  north 
early  in  May,  when  it  is  often  called  the  black-bel- 
lied plover,  and  regarded  from  its  plumage  as  a  dis- 
tinct variety  from  the  fall  bird  ;  it  is  then  quite  shy. 
In  August  or  September  it  returns,  being  more  plen- 
tiful in  the  latter  month,  and  is  often  found  in  great 
numbers  especially  at  Montauk  Point ;  and  at  that 
period  the  young,  being  quite  fat,  are  regarded  as 
delicious  eating.  It  is  then  greyer  in  appearance 
and  not  so  strongly  colored  as  when  in  full  plumage. 
Before  the  main  flight  arrives,  scattering  individuals 
are  heard  uttering  their  peculiar  beautiful  and  shrill 
cry,  and  are  seen  shyly  approaching  the  stools,  or 
darting  round  not  far  off,  and  yet  afraid  to  draw 
close  to  them.  Its  head  is  large  and  round,  giving 
rise  to  the  name  of  bull-head,  which  is  common  on 
the  coast  of  New  Jersey,  although  in  New  York  it 
is  generally  known  as  black-breast. 

"  Specific  Character. — Bill  stout,  along  the  gap 
one  inch  and  five-sixteenths  ;  length  of  tarsi  one  inch 
and  five-eighths.  Adult  male  with,  the  bill  black, 
strong,  shorter  than  the  head ;  cheeks,  loral  space, 
throat,  fore-neck,  breast,  with  a  large  portion  of  the 
abdomen  black ;  hind  part  of  the  abdomen  and  flanks 
white  ;  forehead,  with  a  broad  band  passing  down 
the  sides  of  the  neck  and  breast,  white  ;  crown,  oc- 
ciput, and  hind-neck  greyish  white,  spotted  with 
dusky ;  upper  parts  blackish-brown,  the  feathers 
broadly  tipped  with  white ;  eye  encircled  with  white ; 
tail  and  upper  tail-coverts  white,  barred  with  black, 
the  former  tipped  with  white ;  lower  tail-coverts 


BAY-BIRDS.  ]  43 

white,  the  outer  feather  spotted  with  black;  pri- 
maries and  their  coverts  blackish-brown,  the  latter 
margined  with  white ;  primary  shafts  about  two- 
thirds  from  the  base,  white,  tips  blackish-brown ; 
part  of  the  inner  webs  of  the  outer  primaries  white  ; 
both  webs  of  the  inner  primaries  partially  white ; 
secondaries  white  at  the  base,  margined  at  the  same ; 
feet  black  ;  toes  connected  by  a  membrane.  Female 
smaller.  Young  with  the  upper  plumage  greyish- 
brown,  the  feathers  spotted  with  white ;  throat,  fore- 
neck,  and  upper  part  of  the  breast  greyish-white, 
streaked  with  dusky  ;  rest  of  the  lower  parts  white. 
Length  of  adult  male  eleven  inches  and  three  quar- 
ters, wing  seven  and  a  half." — Giraud^s  Birds  of 
Long  Island. 

AMERICAN  GOLDEN  PLOVER. 

Frost  Bird,  Greenback. 
Oharadrius  Pluvialis,  Wils. 

This  bird  furnishes  great  sport  at  Montauk  Point, 
when  the  fortunate  sportsman  "happens  to  arrive 
after  a  fierce  north-easter  early  in  September  and 
during  one  of  those  wonderful  flights  that  occasion- 
ally occur.  They  come  readily  to  the  decoys  which 
are  placed  in  the  open  upland  fields,  and  were  once 
killed  in  great  numbers  on  Hempstead  plains  before 
cultivation  ejected  them.  A  large  number  of  de- 
coys should  be  used,  for  they  are  not  so  easily  seen 
as  when  set  in  the  water.  After  alighting,  the  gold- 
en plover  runs  with  great  activity  in  pursuit  of  the 


144  BAY-BIRDS. 

insects,  mostly  grasshoppers,  on  which  it  feeds  ;  and 
when  killed  it  constitutes  a  prime  delicacy  for  the 
table,  and  brings  a  high  price  in  market.  It  passes 
to  the  northward  in  the  latter  part  of  April,  and  re- 
turns in  the  early  part  of  September.  Its  general 
color  on  the  back  is  greenish,  and  it  has  a  distinct 
light  stripe  alongside  of  the  eye.  They  often  con- 
gregate in  immense  numbers,  and  I  have  certainly 
seen  a  thousand  in  a  flock. 

"  Specific  Character. — Bill  rather  slender ;  along 
the  gap  one  inch  and  an  eighth ;  tarsi  one  and  nine- 
t  sixteenths.  Adult  with  the  bill  black,  much  slighter 
than  C.  helveticus  ;  forehead,  and  a  band  over  the  eye, 
extending  behind  the  eye,  white ;  upper  parts,  includ- 
ing the  crown,  brownish-black,  the  feathers  marked 
with  spots  of  golden  yellow  and  dull  white ;  quills 
and  coverts  dark  greyish-brown;  secondaries  paler 
— the  inner  margined  with  yellowish- white ;  tail 
feathers  greyish-brown,  barred  with  paler,  the  central 
with  dull  yellow;  shafts  of  the  wing  quills  white 
towards  the  end,  which,  with  their  bases,  are  dark 
brown  ;  lower  parts  brownish-black,  though  in  gene- 
ral we  find  them  mottled  with  brown,  dull  white,  and 
black ;  lower  tail-coverts  white,  the  lateral  marked 
with  black  ;  feet  bluish-grey.  Late  in  autumn,  the 
golden  markings  on  the  upper  parts  are  not  so  dis- 
tinct, and  the  lower  parts  are  greyish-blue.  Length, 
ten  inches  and  a  half,  wing  seven  and  one-eighth." — 
Giraud. 


BAT-BIRDS.  145 

BEACH-BIKD. 

Piping  Plover. 
Charadrius  Hiaticula,  Wils. 

The  beach-bird,  as  its  name  implies,  prefers  the 
beaches  to  the  meadows,  and  follows  each  retreating 
wave  of  ocean  surf  in  pursuit  of  its  prey,  escaping 
with  amazing  agility  from  the  next  swell.  It  is  a 
pretty  little  bird,  not  often  associating  in  flocks,  and 
on  hazy  days  coming  well  to  the  decoys,  which 
should  be  placed  near  to  the  surf,  while  the  sports- 
man conceals  himself  by  digging  a  hollow  in  the 
loose  sand.  Although  these  birds  are  small,  they 
are  plump  and  well  flavored,  and  when  flying  rapid- 
ly on  a  level  with  the  flashing  breakers,  amid  the 
noise  and  confusion  of  old  ocean's  roar,  are  by  no 
means  easy  to  kill.  They  are  present  with  us  more 
or  less  all  summer,  their  diminutive  size  tending  to 
protect  them  fi*om  destruction. 

"  Specific  Character. — Bill  shorter  than  the  head  ; 
at  base  orange  color,  towards  the  end  black ;  fore- 
neck  and  cheeks  pure  white,  bordered  above  with 
black ;  rest  of  the  head  very  pale  brown.  Adult 
male  with  the  bill  short,  orange  at  the  base,  anterior 
to  the  nostrils  black ;  forehead  white,  with  a  band  of 
black  crossing  directly  above ;  upper  part  of  the  head, 
hind  neck,  back,  scapulars,  and  wing  coverts,  pale 
brown  ;  rump  white,  the  central  feathers  tinged  with 
brown  ;  tail  brown,  white  at  base,  tipped  with  the 
same  ;  lateral  feathers  pure  white — the  next  with  a 
spot  of  blackish-brown  near  the  end  ;  upper  tail 
7 


146  BAY-BIRDS. 

coverts  white ;  primaries  brown ;  a  large  portion  of 
the  inner  webs  white ;  a  spot  of  the  same  on  the 
outer  webs  of  the  inner  quills  ;  secondaries  white, 
with  a  large  spot  of  brown  towards  the  ends ;  lower 
surface  of  the  wings  white,  a  black  band  round  the 
lower  part  of  the  neck,  broadest  on  the  sides  where 
it  terminates ;  entire  lower  plumage  white.  Female 
similar,  with  the  band  on  the  neck  brown.  Length 
seven  inches,  wing  four  and  a  half." —  Giraud. 

KILDEER. 

Charadrius  Vodferus,  Wils. 

A  worthless  bird,  furnishing  no  sport,  and  poor 
eating. 

"  Specific  Character. — A  band  on  the  forehead  pass- 
ing back  to  the  eye ;  a  line  over  the  eye,  upper  part 
of  the  neck  all  round,  and  a  band  on  the  lower  part 
of  the  fore-neck,  white  ;  above  and  below  the  latter, 
a  broad  black  band;  rump  and  upper  tail-coverts 
orange  red.  Adult  with  the  bill  black ;  at  the  base 
a  band  of  blackish-brown  ;  on  the  forehead  a  band 
of  white  passing  back  to  the  eye ;  directly  above  a 
band  of  black;  rest  of  the  head  brown,  with  a 
band  of  white  behind  the  eye ;  throat  white  ;  a  broad 
band  of  the  same  color  encircling  the  upper  part  of 
the  neck ;  middle  of  the  neck  encircled  with  black, 
much  broader  on  the  fore-neck ;  below  which,  on 
the  fore-neck,  a  band  of  white,  followed  by  a  band 
of  black  on  the  lower  neck,  the  feathers  of  which  are 
tipped  with  white,  of  which  color  are  the  breast, 


BAY-BIRDS.  147 

abdomen,  under  tail-coverts,  and  sides,  the  latter 
faintly  tinged  with  yellow ;  tail  rather  long,  round- 
ed ;  the  outer  feathers  white,  barred  with  brownish- 
black,  their  tips  white,  with  a  single  spot  of  black- 
ish-brown on  the  outer  web  ;  the  rest  pale  reddish- 
brown  at  the  base,  changing  into  brownish-black 
towards  the  ends,  which  are  white ;  some  of  the  in- 
ner feathers  tipped  with  yellowish-brown  ;  the  mid- 
dle/feathers are  plain  brown,  with  a  darker  spot 
towards  the  ends,  which  are  slightly  tipped  with 
white  ;  upper  tail-coverts  and  rump  reddish-brown, 
the  latter  brighter  ;  upper  parts  brown,  the  feathers 
margined  with  reddish-brown ;  primaries  dark  brown, 
with  a  large  portion  of  the  inner  web  white  ;  a  spot 
of  the  same  color  on  the  outer  webs  towards  the  tips, 
excepting  the  first  two ;  their  coverts  blackish-brown 
tipped  with  white ;  secondaries  white,  with  a  large 
spot  of  brown  towards  the  ends ;  their  tips,  with 
those  of  the  primaries,  white  ;  secondary  coverts 
brown,  broadly  tipped  with  white.  Length  ten 
inches,  wing  seven  inches." — Giraud. 

SANDEBLING. 
Charadrita  Rubidus,  Wils. 

"Specific  Character. — Bill  straight,  black,  along 
the  gap  one  inch  and  one-eighth  ;  length  of  tarsi  one 
inch ;  hind  toe  wanting.  Adult  with  the  bill  straight, 
about  as  long  as  the  head.  Spring  plumage,  upper 
parts,  with  the  throat,  fore-neck,  and  upper  part  of 
the  breast  rufous,  intermixed  with  dusky  and  grey- 


148  BAY-BIRDS. 

ish  white ;  deeper  red  on  the  back ;  lower  part  of 
the  breast,  abdomen,  and  sides  of  the  body  pure 
white ;  tarsi  and  feet  black  ;  claws  small,  compress- 
ed ;  primaries,  outer  webs,  black ;  inner  webs  light 
brown ;  shafts  brown  at  the  base,  tips  black,  rest 
parts  white  ;  secondaries  light  brown,  broadly  mar- 
gined with  white.  Winter  dress,  lower  parts  white ; 
upper  parts  greyish-white,  intermixed  with  black  or 
dusky,  darkest  on  the  back.  Length  seven  inches 
and  three-quarters,  wing  four  and  seven-eighths." — 
Giraud. 

TURNSTONE. 
Genus  Strepsilas. 

Generic  Distinctions. — Bill  shorter  than  the  head, 
strong,  tapering,  compressed,  and  blunt ;  neck  rather 
short ;  body  full ;  wings  long,  of  moderate  breadth, 
and  pointed  ;  tail  round,  rather  short,  and  composed 
of  twelve  feathers  ;  tarsus  equal  to  the  middle  toe, 
and  rather  stout ;  hind  toe  small,  fore-toes  free,  with 
a  narrow  margin. 

BRANT-BIRD. 

Horse-foot  Snipe,  Turnstone,  Beach-Eobins. 

Strepsilas  Interpres. 

This  is  a  beautiful  bird,  and  stools  pretty  well, 
but  is  rare  and  mostly  solitary  ;  its  young  are  at  Egg 
Harbor  sometimes  termed  beach-birds.  The  brant- 
bird  is  considered  good  eating.  It  feeds  on  the  eggs 
of  the  king-crab  or  horse-foot,  which  it  digs  up  by 
jumping  in  the  air  and  striking  with  both  its  feet  at 


BAY-BIRDS.  149 

once  into  the  sand,  thus  scratching  a  hole  about  three 
inches  deep  and  an  inch  and  a  half  across. 

"  Specific  Character. — Bill  black ;  feet  orange  ;  the 
head  and  sides  of  the  neck  streaked  and  patched 
with  black  and  white ;  fore  part  of  the  neck  and 
upper  portion  of  the  sides  of  the  breast,  black ;  low- 
er parts,  hind  part  of  the  back,  and  upper  tail-cov- 
erts white ;  rump  dusky ;  rest  of  the  upper  parts 
reddish-brown,  mottled  with  black ;  primaries  dusky ; 
a  band  across  the  wings  and  the  throat  white. 
Young  with  the  head  and  neck  all  round,  fore  part 
of  the  back,  and  sides  of  the  breast,  dusky  brown, 
streaked  and  margined  with  greyish-white  ;  wing- 
coverts  and  tertials  broadly  margined  with  dull  red- 
dish-brown. It  can  at  all  tunes  be  identified  by  its 
having  the  throat,  lower  parts,  hind  part  of  the  back, 
and  the  upper  tail-coverts  white,  and  the  feathers 
on  the  rump  dusky.  Adult  with  the  bill  black, 
throat  white,  sides  of  the  head  mottled  with  black 
and  white  ;  crown  streaked  with  black  on  white 
ground ;  on  the  hind  neck  a  patch  of  white  ;  a  patch 
of  black  on  the  sides  of  the  neck,  of  which  color  are 
the  fore-neck  and  the  sides  of  the  breast;  lower 
parts  white ;  tail  blackish-brown,  white  at  the  base, 
of  which  color  are  the  lateral  feathers,  with  a  spot 
of  black  on  the  inner  vanes  near  the  end — the  rest 
margined  with  reddish-brown,  and  tipped  with 
white  ;  upper  tail-coverts  white ;  hind  part  of  the 
back  white  ;  the  feathers  on  the  rump  black ;  fore 
part  of  the  back  mottled  with  black  and  reddish- 
brown  ;  primaries  dark  brown,  inner  webs  white ; 


150  BAY-BIRDS. 

secondaries  broadly  edged  with  white,  forming  a 
band  on  the  wings  ;  outer  secondary  coverts  reddish- 
brown,  inner  black;  outer  scapulars  white,  with 
dusky  spots;  inner  scapulars  reddish  brown.  In 
winter  the  colors  are  duller.  Length  nine  inches, 
wing  five  and  three-quarters." —  Giraud. 

SANDPIPER. 

Genus  Tringa. 

Generic  Distinctions. — Bill  straight,  slender,  and 
tapering,  compressed  towards  the  end,  and  but  little 
longer  than  the  head ;  body  rather  full ;  wings  very 
long  and  pointed  ;  tail  rather  short  and  nearly  even ; 
tarsi  moderate ;  hind  toe  very  small,  and  sometimes 
wanting ;  fore  toes  slender,  of  moderate  length,  and 
generally  divided. 

ROBIN-SNIPE. 

Bed-breasted  Sandpiper. 

Tringa  Cinerea,  Wils.     Winter. 

Tringa  Rufa,  Wils.     Spring. 

This  delicious  and  beautiful  bird,  although  far 
from  plentiful,  furnishes  excellent  sport,  coming 
readily  to  stool,  and  flying  regularly  and  steadily.  It 
mostly  aifects  the  marshy  islands  lying  between  the 
salt  water  creeks,  and  derives  its  name  from  a 
fancied  resemblance  to  the  robin,  as  he  is  termed 
among  us.  It  is  always  gentle,  occasionally  abun- 
dant, and  generally  fat  and  tender ;  by  reason  of  its 


BAY-BIRDS.  151 

steady  flight  it  is  not  difficult  to  kill ;  and  its  food, 
mostly  shell-fish,  does  not  contribute  an  unpleasant 
flavor  to  its  flesh.  It  arrives  from  the  north  about 
the  middle  of  August,  and  often  lingers  for  some 
time  on  the  meadows.  As  the  season  advances  its 
plumage  becomes  paler,  till  it  acquires  the  name  of 
white  .robin-snipe — although  I  have  often  seen  them 
late  in  August  of  the  most  beautiful  and  strongly 
marked  coloring,  the  breast  being  a  rich  brownish 
red  and  the  back  a  fine  grey. 

The  robin-snipe  is  of  about  the  size  of  the  dow- 
itcher,  with  a  shorter  and  more  pointed  bill,  and 
is  killed  indiscriminately  on  the  stools  with  the 
other  bay-birds.  Its  call  consists  of  two  notes,  and 
is  sharp  and  clear ;  when  well  imitated,  it  will  often 
attract  the  confiding  snipe  to  the  gunner,  exposed 
in  full  view,  and  without  decoys.  This  bird  is  very 
beautiful,  and  a  great  favorite. 

"Specific  Character. — Bill  straight,  longer  than  the 
head ;  tarsi  one  inch  and  three-sixteenths  long ; 
rump  and  upper  tail-coverts  white,  barred  with 
dark  brown  ;  region  of  the  vent  and  the  lower  tail- 
coverts  white,  with  dusky  markings.  In  spring  the 
upper  parts  are  ash-grey,  variegated  with  black  and 
pale  yellowish-red  ;  lower  parts,  including  the  throat 
and  fore-neck,  brownish-orange.  In  autumn  the 
upper  parts  are  ash-grey,  margined  with  dull  white ; 
rump  and  upper  tail-coverts  barred  with  black  and 
white ;  lower  parts  white ;  the  sides  of  the  body 
marked  with  dusky ;  a  dull  white  line  over  the  eye. 
Adult  in  spring — bill  black ;  a  broad  band  of  reddish 


152  BAY-BIRDS. 

brown  commences  at  the  base  of  the  upper  mandible, 
extends  half-way  to  the  eye,  where  it  changes  to 
reddish-brown ;  upper  part  of  head  and  the  hind 
neck  dusky,  the  feathers  margined  with  greyish 
white — a  few  touches  of  pale  reddish-brown  on  the 
latter ;  throat,  fore-neck,  breast,  and  abdomen  red- 
dish-brown ;  vent  white ;  lower  tail  coverts  white, 
spotted  with  dusky ;  upper  plumage  blackish-brown, 
upper  tail-coverts  barred  with  black  and  white ;  tail 
pale  brown,  margined  with  white ;  primary  coverts 
black,  tipped  with  white ;  secondary  coverts  grey- 
ish-brown, margined  with  white.  Young  with  the 
upper  parts  greyish-brown ;  the  feathers  with  cen- 
tral dusky  streaks,  a  narrow  line  of  cinnamon-color 
towards  their  margins,  which  are  dull  white ;  the 
lower  parts  ash-grey.  Length  of  adult,  ten  inches ; 
wing,  six  and  three-quarters." — Giraud. 

UPLAND  PLOVER. 

Grey,  Grass,  or  Field  Plover. 

Bartram's  Sandpiper. 
Tringd  Bartramia,  Wils. 

This  bird,  although  scientifically  not  a  plover,  is, 
by  its  habits,  entitled  to  an  appellation  that  common 
consent  has  bestowed  upon  it.  It  is  found  upon  the 
uplands,  never  frequenting  the  marshes  except  by 
crossing  them  while  migrating,  and  feeds,  not  on 
shell-fish  or  the  innumerable  minute  insects  that  live 
'in  sand  and  salt  mud,  but  on  the  grasshoppers  and 
seeds  of  the  open  fields.  It  never  takes  the  slightest 


BAY-BIRDS.  153 

notice  of  the  stools,  is  comparatively  a  solitary  bird, 
and  although  continually  uttering  its  melodious  cry, 
does  not  heed  a  responsive  call. 

On  the  eastern  extremity  of  Long  Island,  and 
along  the  coast  of  New  England,  are  vast  rolling 
and  hilly  stretches  of  land,  where  there  are  no  trees 
and  little  vegetation,  besides  a  short  thin  grass,  and 
here  the  plovers  rest  and  feed.  They  migrate  to  the 
southward  in  August,  and  appear  about  the  same 
time  scattered  from  Nantucket  to  New  Jersey.  In 
spite  of  their  shyness  and  the  difficulty  of  killing 
them,  they  are  pursued  relentlessly  by  man  with 
every  device  that  he  finds  will  outwit  their  cunning 
or  deceive  their  vigilance. 

Rhode  Island  has  long  been  one  of  their  favorite 
resorts,  but  has  been  overrun  with  gunners,  who 
follow  the  vocation  either  for  sport  or  pleasure,  and 
there,  for  many  years,  the  grey  plover  were  killed 
in  considerable  quantities.  Many  are  still  found  in 
the  same  locality,  or  further  east,  as  well  as  at 
Montauk  Point;  but  at  Hempstead  Plains,  where 
they  were  once  found  quite  numerous,  they  appear  no 
longer  ;  and  the  eastern  shore  of  New  Jersey  being 
unsuited  to  their  habits,  they  rarely  sojourn  or  even 
pause  upon  it.  They  travel  as  well  by  night  as  by 
day ;  and  in  the  still  summer  nights  their  sweet  trill- 
ing cry  may  be  heard  at  short  intervals ;  while  dur- 
ing the  day  they  will  often  be  seen  in  small  bodies,  or 
singly,  winging  their  way  rapidly  towards  the  south. 

They  are  wary,  fly  rapidly,  and  are  difficult  to 
shoot,  and,. were  it  not  for  one  peculiarity,  would 
7* 


154  BAY-BIRDS. 

escape  almost  scatheless.  Alighting  only  in  the  open 
fields,  where  the  thin  grass  reveals  every  enemy  and 
exposes  every  approaching  object  to  their  view; 
readily  alarmed  at  the  first  symptom  of  danger,  and 
shunning  the  slightest  familiarity  with  man,  they  are 
impossible  to  reach  except  with  laborious  and  pain- 
ful creeping  that  no  sportsman  cares  to  undertake. 
Not  sufficiently  gregarious  or  friendly  in  their  na- 
ture to  desire  the  company  of  wooden  decoys,  they 
cannot  be  lured  within  gunshot;  and  it  is  only 
through  their  confidence  in  their  fellow-beasts  that 
their  destruction  can  be  accomplished. 

A  horse,  they  know,  has  no  evil  design,  does  not 
live  on  plover,  and  may  be  permitted  to  come  and 
go  as  he  pleases ;  a  horse  drawing  a  wagon  is  to  be 
pitied,  not  feared  ;  and,  most  fortunately,  the  birds 
cannot  conceive  that  a  man  would  be  mean  enough 
to  hide  in  that  wagon,  and  drive  that  horse  in  an 
ingenious  manner  round  and  round  them,  every 
time  narrowing  the  circle  till  he  gets  within  shot. 
Man,  however,  is  ready  for  any  subterfuge  to  gain 
his  plover ;  and,  seated  on  the  tail-board,  or  a  place 
behind  prepared  for  the  purpose,  he  steps  to  the 
ground  the  moment  the  wagon  stops,  and  as  the 
bird  immediately  rises,  fires — being  often  compelled, 
in  spite  of  his  ingenuity,  to  take  a  long  shot. 

Even  in  this  mode  no  large  number  of  birds  is 
killed,  and  by  creeping  or  stalking  few  indeed  are 
obtained.  One  inventive  genius  made  an  imitation 
cow  of  slats  and  canvas  painted  to  represent  the 
living  animal,  and,  mounting  it  upon  his  shoulders, 


BAY-BIRDS.  155 

was  often  able  to  approach  without  detection ; 
when  near  enough,  or  if  the  bird  became  alarmed, 
he  cast  off  his  false  skin  and  used  his  fowling-piece. 
This  was  certainly  an  original  and  successful  mode  of 
modifying  an  idea  derived  from  the  times  of  ancient 
Troy. 

This  bird  is  so  delicious  and  so  highly  prized  by 
the  epicure,  that  no  pains  are  spared  in  its  capture  ; 
it  is  by  many  superior  judges  regarded  as  the  rich- 
est and  most  delicately  flavored  of  the  birds  of 
America ;  while  its  timid  and  wary  disposition  ren- 
ders it  the  most  difficult  to  kill.  It  is,  therefore, 
justly  esteemed  the  richest  prize  of  the  sportsman 
and  the  gourmand,  and  holds  as  high  a  rank  in  the 
field  as  in  the  market. 

It  is  not,  properly  speaking,  a  bay-bird ;  but  as  it 
is  frequently  shot  from  the  stand  when  passing  near 
the  decoys,  these  few  remarks  concerning  it  are  in- 
serted. It  is  essentially  an  upland  bird,  although 
from  the  nature  of  its  migration  it  passes  along  the 
coast  and  occasionally  far  out  at  sea. 

"  Specific  Character, — Bill  slender,  rather  longer 
than  the  head ;  tarsi  one  inch  and  seven-eighths ; 
neck  rather  long,  slender  ;  axillars  distinctly  barred 
with  black  and  greyish-white ;  upper  parts  dark 
brown,  margined  with  yellowish-brown ;  fore-neck 
and  fore  part  of  the  breast  with  arrow-shaped  mark- 
ings ;  rest  of  the  lower  parts  yellowish  -  white. 
Adult  with  the  bill  slender,  yellowish-green,  dusky 
at  the  tip ;  upper  part  of  the  head  dark  brown,  with 
a  central  yellowish-brown  line,  the  feathers  mar- 


156  BAY-BIRDS. 

gined  with  the  same  color ;  hind  part  and  sides  of 
the  neck  yellowish-brown,  streaked  with  dusky; 
fore  part  of  the  neck  and  breast  paler,  with  pointed 
streaks  of  dusky ;  sides  of  the  body  barred  with  the 
same ;  rest  of  lower  parts  yellowish-white ;  lower 
wing-coverts  white,  barred  with  brownish-black ; 
upper  plumage  dark-brown,  margined  with  yellow- 
ish-brown, darker  on  the  hind  part  of  the  back; 
primaries  dark-brown ;  coverts  the  same  color ;  inner 
webs  of  the  primaries  barred  with  white,  more  par- 
ticularly on  the  first — the  shaft  of  which  is  white  ; 
the  rest  brown,  all  tipped  with  white ;  secondaries 
more  broadly  tipped  with  the  same;  coverts  and 
scapulars  dark-brown,  margined  with  yellowish- 
brown,  and  tipped  with  white ;  tail  barred  with 
black  and  yellowish-brown,  tipped  with  white ;  mid- 
dle feathers  darker,  tipped  with  black.  Length  ten 
inches  and  a  half,  wing  six  and  five-eighths." — 
Giraud. 

RED-BACKED  SANDPIPER. 

Winter     Snipe. — Black-breast. 
Tringci  Alpina,  Wils. 

This  bird  absolutely  has  no  common  name. 

"Specific  Character. — Bill  about  one-third  longer 
than  the  head,  bent,  towards  the  end  ;  length  of  tarsi, 
one  inch.  Adult  with  the  bill  black — one-third 
longer  than  the  head,  slightly  bent  towards  the  end, 
and  rather  shorter  than  that  of  T.  Subarquata ; 
upper  part  of  the  head,  back,  and  scapular,  chestnut- 


BAY-BIRDS.  157 

red,  the  centre  of  each  feather  black,  which  color 
occupies  a  large  portion  of  the  scapulars;  wing- 
coverts  and  quills  greyish-brown  ;  the  bases  and  tips 
of  the  secondaries  and  parts  of  the  outer  webs  of 
the  middle  prirnaiies,  white ;  forehead,  sides  of  the 
head,  and  hind  neck,  pale  reddish-grey,  streaked 
with  dusky;  fore  neck  and  upper  part  of  breast 
greyish-white,  streaked  with  dusky;  on  the  lower 
part  of  the  breast  a  large  black  patch ;  abdomen 
white ;  lower  tail  coverts  white,  marked  with  dusky ; 
tail  light-brownish  grey,  streaked — the  central  fea- 
thers darker. 

"  Winter  dress,  upper  parts  brownish-grey ;  throat, 
greyish- white  ;  fore  part  and  sides  of  neck,  sides  of 
the  head,  and  sides  of  the  body,  pale  brownish-grey, 
faintly  streaked  with  darker ;  rest  of  the  lower  parts 
white.  Length,  seven  inches  and  a  half;  wing,  four 
and  an  eighth." — Giraud. 

LONG-LEGGED  SANDPIPER. 

Peep,  Blind  Snipe,  Frost  Snipe,  Stilt. 

Tringd  Himantopus. 

This  bird  also  is  nameless :  it  is  rare,  although  I 
have  killed  quite  a  number  of  them,  and  I  believe  its 
numbers  are  increasing ;  it  rarely  consorts  in  flocks 
of  more  than  five  or  six,  stools  readily,  and  is  often 
mistaken  for  the  yellow-legs. 

"  Specific  Character. — Bill  about  one-third  longer 
than  the  head,  slightly  arched ;  length  of  tarsi,  one 
inch  and  three-eighths.  Adult,  with  the  upper  parts 


158  BAY-BIRDS. 

brownish-black,  the  feathers  margined  with  reddish- 
white  ;  the  edges  of  the  scapulars  with  semiform 
markings  of  the  same  ;  rump  and  upper  tail-coverts 
white,  transversely  barred  with  dusky ;  tail,  light 
grey,  the  feathers  white  at  the  base  and  along  the 
middle  ;  primary  quills  and  coverts  brownish-black — 
inner  tinged  with  grey ;  the  shaft  of  the  outer  pri- 
mary, white  ;  secondaries,  brownish-grey,  margined 
with  reddish-white,  the  inner  dusky ;  a  broad  whitish 
line  over  the  eye ;  loral  space  dusky ;  auriculars, 
pale  brownish-red ;  fore  part  and  sides  of  neck, 
greyish  white,  tinged  with  red,  and  longitudinally 
streaked  with  dusky ;  the  rest  of  the  lower  parts, 
pale  reddish,  transversely  barred  with  dusky ;  the 
middle  of  the  breast  and  the  abdomen  without 
markings;  legs  long  and  slender,  of  a  yellowish- 
green  color.  In  autumn,  the  plumage  duller,  of  a 
more  greyish  appearance,  and  the  reddish  markings 
wanting,  excepting  on  the  sides  of  the  head,  and  a 
few  touches  on  the  scapular.  Length,  nine  inches ; 
wing,  five." — Giraud. 

RING-NECK. 

American    Ring    Plover. 
Tringa  IRaticula,  Wils. 

This  is  a  small,  but  delicate,  fat,  and  pretty  bird ;  it 
does  not  stool  well,  and  accompanies  the  small  snipe. 

"  /Specific  Character. — Bill  shorter  than  the  head ; 
base,  orange  color,  towards  the  point,  black ;  a  broad 
band  on  the  forehead  white,  margined  below  with 


BAY-BIRDS.  159 

a  narrow  black  band,  above  with  a  broad  band  of 
the  same  color  ;  rest  part  of  the  head  wood-brown ; 
lateral  toes  connected  by  a  membrane  as  far  as  the 
first  joint ;  inner  toes,  about  half  that  distance. 
Adult  male  with  the  bill  flesh  color  at  base,  anterior 
to  the  nostrils  black  ;  a  line  of  black  commences  at 
the  base  of  the  upper  mandible,  passes  back  to  the 
eye,  curving  downward  on  the  sides  of  the  neck ;  a 
band  on  the  fore  part  of  the  head  pure  white ;  fore 
part  of  crown,  black  ;  occiput,  wood-brown  ;  chin, 
throat,  and  fore  neck,  passing  round  on  the  hind 
neck,  pure  white  ;  directly  below,  on  the  lower  por- 
tion of  the  neck,  a  broad  band  of  black;  upper 
plumage,  wood-brown  ;  primaries,  blackish-brown  ; 
shafts,  white — blackish-brown  at  their  tips ;  secon- 
daries slightly  edged  with  white  on  the  inner  webs ; 
outer  webs,  nearest  to  the  shafts,  an  elongated  spot 
of  white ;  wing-coverts  wood-brown ;  secondary 
coverts  broadly  tipped  with  white ;  breast,  abdo- 
men, sides,  and  lower  tail-coverts,  pure  white ;  tail 
brown,  lighter  at  the  base ;  outer  feathers  white — 
the  rest  broadly  tipped  with  white,  excepting  the 
middle  pair,  which  are  slightly  tipped  with  the 
same.  Female  similar,  with  the  upper  part  of  the 
head  and  the  band  on  the  neck  brown.  Length, 
seven  inches  and  a  quarter;  wing  five." — Giraud. 


160  BAY-BIRDS. 

KKIEKER. 

Meadow  Snipe,  Fat  Bird,  Short  Neck,  Jack  Snipe,  Pec- 
toral Sandpiper. 

Tringa  Pectoralis,    Aud. 

This  is  an  excellent  bird,  remaining  in  the  meadows 
till  October,  and  becoming  fat,  rich,  and  fine  fla- 
vored, but  unfortunately  it  will  not  come  to  the 
stools.  Although  frequently  associating  in  flocks,  it 
can  hardly  be  said  to  be  truly  gregarious,  and  is  as 
often  found  with  the  different  varieties  of  small  snipe 
as  with  its  own  number.  It  is  quite  a  difficult  bird  to 
kill  when  on  the  wing,  its  flight  being  rapid  and 
irregular,  and  its  size  small;  but  when  it  becomes 
fat  and  lazy,  after  a  long  residence  in  well  supplied 
feeding-grounds,  not  only  is  its  flight  slower  and  it- 
self easier  to  hit,  but  it  is  often  shot  sitting.  Its 
general  color  is  grey,  with  white  on  the  abdomen ; 
and  its  size  varies  greatly  according  to'  its  age  and 
condition,  some  being  of  more  than  double  the  size 
of  others.  As  a  natural  consequence,  considerable 
practice  is  required  to  distinguish  it  readily  from  the 
ox-eyes  by  which  it  is  often  surrounded,  when  the 
meadow  grass  hides  it,  in  a  measure,  from  view.  It 
feeds  and  dwells  altogether  in  the  meadows,  finding 
its  food  in  the  stagnant  water  collected  upon  their 
surface,  and  is  only  plentiful  when  these  are  wet. 
When  alarmed,  it  rises  rapidly,  and  makes  off  in  a 
zigzag  way,  that  reminds  the  sportsman  of  the  flight 
of  English  snipe ;  and  early  in  the  season  it  is  wild 
and  shy.  It  occasionally  passes  over  the  stools,  but 


BAY-BIRDS.  161 

never  pauses  or  seems  to  notice  them ;  and  for  this 
reason,  in  spite  of  its  epicurean  recommendations, 
it  is  generally  neglected.  In  the  cool  days  of  Sep- 
tember and  October,  when  the  mosquitoes  have  suc- 
cumbed in  a  measure  to  the  frost,  its  pursuit  over 
the  open  meadows  is  pleasant  and  exhilarating.  It 
is  often  killed  to  the  number  of  eighty  in  a  day,  and 
is  so  fat  that  its  body  is  absolutely  round. 

"  Specific  Character. — Bill  straight,  base  orange- 
green  ;  length  of  tarsi  one  inch  and  one-sixteenth  ; 
upper  parts  brownish-black,  edged  with  reddish- 
brown  ;  throat  white  ;  fore  part  of  neck  and  upper 
part  of  the  breast  light  brownish-grey,  streaked  with 
dusky  ;.  rest  of  lower  parts,  including  the  lower  tail- 
coverts,  white.  Adult  with  the  bill  straight ;  top 
of  the  head  dark-brown,  intermixed  with  black ; 
sides  of  the  head,  neck,  and  a  large  portion  of  the 
breast,  greyish-brown,  streaked  with  dusky ;  chin 
white  ;  a  streak  of  dark  brown  before  the  eye,  con- 
tinuing to  the  nostril,  directly  above  a  faint  line  of 
white;  back  dark-brown;  feathers  margined  with 
white;  primary  quills  dark-brown — shaft  of  the  first 
white  ;  outer  secondaries  slightly  edged  with  white  ; 
tail-feathers  brown,  margined  with  brownish-white 
— two  middle  feathers  darker,  longest,  and  more 
pointed ;  lower  part  of  the  breast,  abdomen,  and 
sides  of  the  body  and  under  tail-coverts  white  ;  feet 
dull  yellow ;  tibia  bare,  about  half  the  length. 
Female,  the  general  plumage  lighter.  Length  nine 
inches  and  a  half,  whig  five  and  a  quarter." — 
Giraud. 


162  BAY-BIRDS. 

OX-EYE. 

Tringd  Semipalmata,  Wils. 

"  Specific  Character. — Bill  rather  stout,  broad 
towards  the  point ;  along  the  gap  about  one  inch ; 
length  of  tarsi  seven-eighths  of  an  inch ;  bill  and 
legs  black ;  toes  half  webbed.  Adult  with  the  bill 
slender,  about  the  length  of  the  head — dark-green, 
nearly  approaching  to  black  ;  head,  sides,  and  hind- 
part  of  neck  ash-grey,  streaked  with  dusky ;  upper 
parts  blackish-brown,  the  feathers  edged  with 
greyish- white ;  secondary  coverts  tipped  with  white; 
primary  coverts  brownish-black,  as  are  the  feathers 
on  the  rump ;  upper  tail-coverts  the  same ;  wing- 
quills  dusky,  their  shafts  white ;  tail-feathers  ash- 
grey,  the  inner  webs  of  the  middle  pair  much  darker ; 
over  the  eye  a  white  line  ;  lower  parts  white  ;  legs 
black.  Length  six  inches  and  a  half,  wing  four." — 
Giraud. 

This  and  the  following  variety  are  generally  con- 
founded by  bay-men ;  and  being  too  small  to 
demand  much  consideration,  and  never  shot  un- 
less huddled  together,  so  that  a  large  number 
may  be  bagged,  they  are  called  promiscuously  by  the 
odd  name  ox-eye.  They  are  fat,  and  almost  as  good 
eating  when  in  prune  order  as  the  reed-bird. 

OX-EYE. 

Wilson's  Sandpiper. 
Tringd  Pu^itta,  Wils. 

"  Specific  Character. — Bill  along  the  gap  three- 


BAY-BIRDS.  163 

quarters  of  an  inch,  slender ;  tarsi  three-quarters  of 
an  inch  ;  legs  yellowish-green.  Adult  with  the  bill 
brownish- black ;  upper  part  of  the  breast  grey- 
brown,  mixed  with  white ;  back  and  upper  parts 
black;  the  whole  plumage  above  broadly  edged 
with  bright  bay  and  yellow  ochre  ;  primaries  black 
— greater  coverts  the  same,  tipped  with  white ;  tail 
rounded,  the  four  exterior  feathers  on  each  side  dull 
white — the  rest  dark-brown ;  tertials  as  long  as 
the  primaries  ;  head  above  dark-brown,  with  paler 
edges  ;  over  the  eye  a  streak  of  whitish ;  belly  and 
vent  white.  Length  five  inches  and  a  half,  wing 
three  and  a  half.  With  many  of  our  birds  we  ob- 
serve that  individuals  of  the  same  species  vary  in 
length,  extent,  and  sometimes  differ  slightly  in  their 
bills,  even  with  those  which  have  arrived  at 
maturity. — On  consulting  ornithological  works,  we 
notice  that  there  are  no  two  writers  whose 
measurement  is  in  all  cases  alike.  With  specimens 
of  the  Wilson's  sandpiper,  we  find  in  their  pro- 
portions greater  discrepancy  than  in  many  other 
species — and  out  of  these  differences  we  are  inclined 
to  the  opinion  that  two  spurious  species  have  been 
created." —  G-iraud. 

TATLER. 
Genus  Tetanus. 

Generic  Distinctions. — Bill  longer  than  the  head, 
straight,  hard  and  slender ;  neck  slender,  and  both  it 
and  body  rather  long ;  wings  long  and  pointed ;  tail 
short  and  rounded ;  legs  long ;  hind-toe  very  small, 


164  BAY-BIRDS. 

and  the  anterior  ones  connected  at  the  base  by 
webs,  the  inner  being  slightly  webbed. 

WILLET. 

Semipalmated  Tatler. 
Totanus  Semipalmatus,  Lath. 
Scolopax  Semipalmata,  Wils. 

This  is  a  fine,  large,  and  beautiful  bird ;  the 
sharply  distinct  white  and  black  of  its  wings  con- 
trasting admirably  with  the  reddish-brown  tints  of 
the  marlin  and  sickle-bills  with  which  it  often 
associates ;  it  stools  well,  flying  steadily,  and  often 
returning  after  the  first,  and  even  second  visit ;  but 
even  when  fat,  it  is  tough  and  ill-flavored.  It  con- 
gregates in  large  flocks,  and  reaches  the  Middle 
States  on  its  southern  journey  in  the  latter  part  of 
August.  Its  cry  is  a  fierce  wild  shriek,  which  is 
rarely,  if  ever,  accurately  imitated ;  but  it  responds 
to  the  call  of  the  sickle-bill,  and  when  once  headed 
for  the  stools,  rarely  alters  its  course.  In  exposed 
situations  it  is  shy  and  difficult  of  approach,  like 
most  of  the  shore-birds,  which,  although  they  come 
up  so  unsuspiciously  to  the  decoys,  are  wary  of  the 
gunner,  and  rarely  permit  him  to  crawl  within 
range  of  them. 

"  Specific  Character. — Secondaries  and  basal  part 
of  the  primaries  white ;  toes  connected  at  base  by 
broad  membranes.  Adult  with  the  head  and  neck 
brown,  intermixed  with  greyish-white ;  breast  and 
sides  of  the  body  spotted,  and  waved  with  brown 


BAY-BIRDS.  165 

on  white  ground;  abdomen  white;  tail-coverts 
white,  barred  with  brown;  tail  greyish-brown, 
barred  with  darker  brown — the  outer  two  feathers 
lighter ;  rump  brown ;  fore  part  of  the  back  and 
wing-coverts  brown,  largely  spotted  with  dull  white ; 
primaries  blackish-brown,  broadly  banded  with 
white ;  secondaries  white.  Length  fifteen  inches 
and  a  half,  wing  eight." — Giraud. 

YELPEB. 

Big  Yellow-Legs—Greater  Yellow-Shanks— Tell-tale  Tatler. 
Totanus  Vociferus,  Wils. 

This  is  one  of  the  most  numerous  of  the  bay- 
birds,  and  among  the  most  highly  prized  for  its 
sport-conferring  properties.  It  stools  well,  although 
occasionally  suspicious,  and  will  often  drop  like  a 
stone  from  the  clouds,  where  it  is  fond  of  flying,  upon 
receiving  a  response  to  its  strong,  clear,  and  easily 
imitated  cry.  It  will  also  frequently  come  within 
shot  in  the  open,  when  the  sportsman  is  unaided  by 
his  decoys.  Its  flight  is  uneven,  being  often  slow 
when  approaching  or  pausing  over  the  stools,  and 
then  exceedingly  rapid  and  irregular  when  alarmed ; 
and  if  there  are  no  stools  to  make  the  Yelper  hesi- 
tate, it  has  a  bobbing  motion,  as  if  searching  for  the 
origin  of  the  call,  that  makes  it  exceedingly  difficult 
to  kill.  Moreover,  it  is  vigorous,  and  will  carry  off 
much  shot,  as  in  fact  is  the  habit  with  all  the  shore- 
birds,  and  is  tough  and  sedgy  on  the  table. 


166  BAY-BIRDS. 

It  does  not  associate  in  large  flocks,  but  roams 
about  in  parties  of  three  or  four. 

"  Specific  Character, — Bill  along  the  ridge  two 
and  a  quarter  inches ;  tarsi  two  and  a  half;  legs  yel- 
low. Adult  with  the  bill  black,  at  the  base  bluish ; 
upper  part  of  the  head,  loral  space,  cheeks,  and  neck, 
streaked  with  brownish-black  and  white ;  throat 
white  ;  a  white  line  from  the  bill  to  the  eye  ;  a  white 
ring  round  the  eye;  breast  and  abdomen  white, 
spotted  and  barred  with  brownish-black  ;  sides  and 
tail-coverts  the  same ;  lower  surface  of  the  primaries 
light  grey — upper  brownish-black,  the  inner  spotted 
white ;  wing-coverts  and  back  brown,  spotted  with 
white,  and  dusky ;  scapulars  the  same  ;  tail  brown, 
barred  with  white.  Winter  plumage,  the  upper 
parts  lighter — larger  portion  of  the  breast  and  abdo- 
men white;  sides  of  the  body  barred  with  dusky. 
Length,  fourteen  inches;  wing,  seven  and  a  quar- 
ter."—  Giraud. 

YELLOW-LEGS. 

Little  Yellow-Legs — Yellow-Shanks  Tatler. 

Totanus  Flavipes,  Lath. 
Scolopax  Flavipes,  Wilson. 

This  bird  in  appearance  is  almost  identical  with 
the  yelper,  except  that  it  is  much  smaller,  not 
being  more  than  half  as  large.  It  has  several  calls, 
consisting  of  one  or  more  flute-like  and  shrill  notes, 
which  are  rather  difficult  to  imitate.  It  is  probably 
the  most  plentiful  of  all  the  bay-snipe,  making  its 
summer  visit  in  July,  and  continuing  to  arrive  till 


BAY-BIRDS.  167 

/• 

late  in  September.  It  collects  in  immense  flocks, 
and  stools  excellently,  but  its  flight  is  irregular  and 
rapid,  and  when  frightened,  it  darts  about  in  a  con- 
fusing way  that  often  baffles  the  sportsman.  When 
wounded  it  will  swim  away,  and,  if  possible,  crawl 
into  the  grass  to  hide. 

Although  a  pleasant  bird  to  shoot,  it  is  unattrac- 
tive on  the  table,  even  when  in  best  condition,  unless 
killed  along  the  fresh  water,  where  it  attains  an 
agreeable  and  delicate  flavor.  Both  it  and  the 
yelper  are  found  in  considerable  numbers  on  the 
marshy  shores  of  the  western  lakes,  where  it  and  the 
other  smaller  bay-birds  are  called,  indiscriminately, 
plover. 

Wonderful  stories  are  told  of  the  number  of  yel- 
low-legs killed  at  one  shot,  and  as  it  is  a  small  bird, 
these  are  probably  not  exaggerated.  By  Wilson 
the  yellow-legs,  the  yelper,  and  willet  are  classed 
among  the  Scolopacidce,  or  snipe,  but  the  other  orni- 
thologists have  erected  a  separate  genus  for  them. 

"Specific  Character. — Bill  along  the  ridge  one 
inch  and  three-eighths ;  length  of  tarsi  one  inch  and 
seven-eighths;  legs  yellow.  Adult  with  the  bill 
black;  throat  white;  upper  part  of  the  head,  lores, 
cheeks,  hind  part  and  side  parts  of  the  neck,  deep 
brownish-grey,  streaked  with  greyish-white ;  eye 
encircled  with  white,  a  band  of  the  same  color  from 
the  bill  to  the  eye ;  fore  neck,  sides  of  the  body,  and 
upper  pare  of  the  breast,  greyish-white,  streaked 
with  greyish-brown;  lower  part  of  the  breast  and 
abdomen  white ;  lower  tail-coverts  white,  the  outer 


168  BAY-BIRDS. 

feathers  barred  with  brown ;  scapulars  and  fore  part 
of  the  back  brown,  the  feathers  barred  and  spotted 
with  black  and  white  ;  primaries  blackish-brown,  the 
shaft  of  the  outer  brownish- white,  whiter  towards  the 
tip,  the  rest  dark-brown ;  secondaries  margined  with 
white ;  hind  part  of  the  back  brownish-grey ;  tail 
barred  with  greyish-brown,  white  at  the  tip ;  legs, 
feet,  and  toes,  yellow ;  claws  black.  Length,  ten 
inches  and  three-quarters  ;  wing,  six.  Young  with 
the  legs  greenish — and  by  those  who  have  not  recog- 
nised it  as  the  young  of  the  year,  I  have  heard  the 
propriety  of  its  name  questioned." —  Giraud. 

GODWIT. 

Genus  Limosa. 

Generic  Distinctions. — Bill  very  long,  a  little  re- 
curved from  the  middle,  rather  slender,  and  with  the 
lower  mandible  the  shorter.  Wings  long  and  very 
acute ;  tail  short  and  even ;  legs  long ;  toes  four,  and 
rather  slender,  the  hind  one  being  small  and  the 
middle  toe  the  longest ;  anterior  toes  connected  at 
the  base  by  webs,  the  outer  web  being  much  the 
larger. 

MABLLKT. 

Great  Marbled   Godwit. 
Limosa  Fedoa,  Linn. 
Scolopax  Fedoa,  Wils. 
This  is  the  gentlest  and  most  abundant  of  the 


BAY-BIRDS.  169 

large  birds,  approaching  the  decoys  with  great  con- 
fidence and  returning  again  and  again,  till  frequently 
the  entire  flock  is  killed.  In  color  it  is  a  reddish- 
brown,  lighter  on  the  abdomen,  and  its  flight  is 
steady  and  rather  slow.  Although  better  eating 
than  the  willet,  and  very  rich  and  juicy,  its  flesh 
cannot  be  called  delicate.  The  ring-tailed  marlin 
or  Hudsonian  Godwit,  Limosa  Hudsonica,  Lath. 
is  a  finer  but  much  scarcer  bird,  and  resembles  some- 
what in  color  the  willet,  but  has  the  marlin  bill, 
which  is  longer  than  that  of  the  last-named  spe- 
cies. 

"  Specific  Character. — Bill  at  base  yellow,  towards 
the  end  blackish-brown;  upper  parts  spotted  and 
barred  with  yellowish-grey  and  brownish-black ; 
lower  parts  pale  reddish-brown  ;  tail  darker,  barred 
with  black.  Adult  male  with  the  bill  at  the  base 
yellowish-brown,  towards  the  end  black ;  head  and 
neck  greyish-brown,  tinged  with  pale  reddish,  streak- 
ed with  dusky — darker  on  the  upper  part  of  the 
head  and  hind  neck ;  throat  whitish,  lower  parts 
pale  reddish-brown  ;  under  tail-coverts  barred  with 
brown ;  tail  reddish-brown,  barred  with  dusky ;  up- 
per tail-coverts  the  same ;  upper  parts  barred  with 
brownish-black  and  pale  reddish-brown,  spotted  with 
dusky ;  inner  primaries  tipped  with  yellowish-white ; 
scapulars  and  wing-coverts  barred  with  pale  reddish- 
brown  and  greyish-white ;  shaft  of  the  first  primary 
*  white,  dusky  at  the  tip;  inner  shafts  at  the  base 
white,  rest  part  light  brown,  excepting  the  tips, 
which  are  dusky.  Length,  sixteen  inches;  wing, 
8 


170  BAY-BIRDS. 

9 

nine  and  a  half.    Female  larger,  exceeding  the  male 
from  three  to  four  inches." —  Giraud. 

RING-TAILED  MARLIN. 

Hudsonian  Godwit. 
Limosa  Hudsonica,  Lath. 

"  Specific  Character. — Bill  blackish-brown,  at  base 
of  lower  mandible  yellow ;  upper  parts  light  brown, 
marked  with  dull  brown,  and  a  few  small  white  spots  ; 
neck  all  around  brownish-grey ;  lower  parts  white, 
largely  marked  with  ferruginous ;  basal  part  of  tail- 
feathers  and  a  band  crossing  the  rump,  white.  Adult 
with  the  bill  slender,  blackish  towards  the  tip,  lighter 
at  the  base,  particularly  at  the  base  of  the  lower 
mandible  ;  a  line  of  brownish-white  from  the  bill  to 
the  eye ;  lower  eyelid  white ;  throat  white,  spotted 
with  rust  color ;  head  and  neck  brownish-grey ;. 
lower  parts  white,  marked  with  large  spots  of  ferru- 
ginous ;  under  tail-coverts  barred  with  broWnish- 
black,  and  ferruginous ;  tail  brownish-black,  with  a 
white  band  at  the  base ;  a  band  over  the  rump ;  tips 
of  primary  coverts  and  bases  of  quills  white ;  upper 
tail-coverts  brownish-black — their  base  white ;  upper 
parts  greyish-brown,  scapulars  marked  with  darker ; 
feet  bluish.  Length,  fifteen  inches  and  a  half;  wing, 
eight  and  a  half.  Young  with  the  lower  parts  brown- 
ish-grey, the  ferruginous  markings  wanting." — 
Giraud. 

SNIPE. 
Genus  Scolopax,  Linn. 

Generic  Distinctions. — Bill  long,  at  least  twice  the 


BAY-BIRDS.  171 

length  of  the  head ;  straight,  tapering,  and  flattened 
towards  the  end  ;  eyes  rather  large,  placed  high  in 
the  head,  and  far  back  from  the  bill ;  neck  of  mode- 
rate length,  and  rather  thick ;  body  full ;  wings 
rather  long  and  pointed ;  tail  moderate  and  rounded ; 
legs  moderate  ;  toes  slender  and  rather  long,  except 
the  hind  one ;  middle  toe  longest,  and  connected  at 
the  base  with  the  inner  by  a  slight  web,  the  outer 
one  being  free. 

DOWITCHEK. 

Dowitch — Brown  Back — Quail-Snipe — Red-Breasted  Snipe. 
Scolopax  Noveboracensis,  Wils. 

This  is  a  beautiful,  excellent,  and  plentiful  bird ;  it 
abounds  in  the  marshes  during  the  entire  summer, 
congregates  in  vast  flocks,  and  although  uttering  a 
faint  call  itself,  is  attracted  to  the  decoys  by  the  cry 
of  the  yellow-legs,  or  almost  any  sharp  whistle.  It  is 
remarkably  gentle,  individuals  often  alighting  when 
their  associates  are  slain,  in  spite  of  the  unusual 
uproar ;  and  it  can  be  more  readily  approached  than 
any  of  the  bay-birds.  Its  flesh,  moreover,  is  quite 
delicate,  and  when  fat  somewhat  similar  to  that  of 
the  English  snipe,  which  it  greatly  resembles  in 
appearance.  In  general  color  it  is  brownish,  with  a 
light  abdomen,  but  occasionally  the  breast  is  as  red 
as  that  of  a  robin  in  full  plumage.  Its  flight  is 
steady,  although  when  alarmed  it  "  skivers,"  or  darts 
about  rapidly,  and  as  it  flies  in  close  ranks,  it  suffers 
proportionally.  Although  it  is  rather  looked  down 


172  BAY-BIEDS. 

upon  by  persons  who  wish  to  make  a  show  of  large 
birds,  I  ana  always  entirely  satisfied  with  a  good  bag 
of  well-conditioned  dowitchers. 

"  Specific  Character. — Spring  plumage,  upper 
parts  brownish-black,  variegated  with  light  brown- 
ish-red ;  lower  parts  dull  orange-red,  abdomen  paler, 
spotted  and  barred  with  black;  rump  white;  the 
tail  feathers  and  the  upper  and  lower  tail-coverts, 
alternately  barred  with  white  and  black.  In  autumn 
the  upper  parts  are  brownish-grey ;  the  lower  parts 
greyish- white ;  the  tail  feathers  and  the  upper 
and  lower  tail-coverts  the  same  as  in  spring. 
Adult  with  the  bill  towards  the  end  black,  lighter 
at  the  base ;  top  of  the  head,  back  of  the  neck, 
scapulars,  tertials,  and  fore  part  of  the  back, 
blackish-brown,  variegated  with  ferruginous ;  second- 
aries and  wing-coverts  clove-brown,  the  latter  edged 
with  white,  the  former  tipped  with  the  same ; 
hind  part  of  back  white ;  the  rump  marked  with 
roundish  spots  of  blackish-brown ;  upper  tail-coverts 
dull  white,  barred  with  black ;  tail  feathers  crossed 
with  numerous  black  bands,  their  tips  white ;  loral 
band  dusky,  the  space  between  which  and  the  medial 
band  on  the  fore  part  of  the  head,  greyish-white, 
tinged  with  ferruginous,  and  slightly  touched  with 
dusky ;  sides  of  the  head  spotted  with  dark-brown ; 
lower  parts  dull  orange-red,  the  abdomen  lighter ; 
the  neck  and  fore  part  of  breast  spotted  with  dusky ; 
the  sides  of  the  body  with  numerous  bars  of  the 
same  color;  legs  and  feet  dull  yellowish-green. 
Young  with  the  lower  parts  paler.  Winter  dress, 


BAY-BIRDS.  173 

the  upper  parts  brownish-grey ;  neck  ash-grey, 
streaked  with  dusky ;  lower  parts  greyish-white, 
with  dusky  bars  on  the  sides  of  the  body.  Length, 
ten  inches  and  a  half;  wing,  six." — Giraud. 

CUBLEW. 
Genus  Numenius,  Briss. 

Generic  Distinctions. — Bill  very  long,  slender,  de- 
curved  or  arched,  with  the  upper  mandible  the 
longer,  and  obtuse  at  the  end;  head  rounded  and 
compressed  above ;  neck  long,  body  full,  wings  long, 
feet  rather  long ;  toes  connected  at  the  base ;  tibiii 
bare  a  short  space  above  the  knee ;  legs  rather  long ; 
tail  short  and  rounded. 

JACK  CURLEW. 

Short-billed  Curlew.    Hudsonian  Curlew. 
Numenius  Hudsonicus,  Lath. 

This  is  a  graceful  and  elegant  bird,  but  so  shy 
and  so  well  able  to  carry  off  shot,  that  it  is  regarded 
as  the  most  difficult  to  kill  of  all  the  bay-birds.  It 
has  a  long,  rolling  cry,  and  although  it  approaches 
the  decoys,  it  rarely  alights,  or  even  pauses  over 
them ;  but,  detecting  the  deception,  it  turns  off  or 
passes  on  in  its  course.  For  this  reason,  the  fortu- 
nate sportsman  who  kills  a  "Jack"  is  eminently 
satisfied,  although  its  flesh  is  not  remarkably  fine. 

"  Specific  Character. — Length  of  bill,  three  inches 
and  three-quarters ;  tarsi,  two  inches ;  lower  parts 


174:  BAY-BIRDS. 

i 

white.  Adult  with  the  upper  part  of  the  head  deep 
brown,  with  a  central  and  two  lateral  lines  of 
whitish  ;  a  brown  line  from  the  bill  to  the  eye,  and 
another  behind  the  eye ;  neck  ah1  round,  pale  yel- 
lowish-grey, longitudinally  streaked  with  brown,  ex- 
cepting the  upper  part  of  the  throat,  which  is  grey- 
ish-white; upper  parts  in  general  blackish-brown, 
marked  with  numerous  spots  of  brownish-white, 
there  being  several  along  the  margins  of  each 
feather  ;  wings  and  rump  somewhat  lighter ;  upper 
tail-coverts  and  tail  barred  with  dark-brown  and 
olivaceous  grey ;  primaries  and  their  coverts  black- 
ish-brown, all  with  transverse  yellowish-grey  mark- 
ings on  the  inner  web ;  the  shaft  of  the  first  quill, 
white — of  the  rest,  brown ;  breast  and  abdomen 
greyish-white,  the  sides  tinged  with  cream  color, 
and  barred  with  greyish-brown ;  bill  rather  more 
than  twice  the  length  of  the  head,  of  a  brownish- 
black  color — at  the  base  of  the  lower  mandible,  flesh 
colored.  Length,  eighteen  inches ;  wing,  nine  and 
a  half." — Giraud. 

SICKLE-BILL  CURLEW. 

Long-billed  Curlew. 
Numenius  Longirostris,   Wils. 

The  finest,  largest,  most  graceful,  and  elegant  of 
all  the  bay-birds  is  the  magnificent  sickle-bill ;  asso- 
ciating in  large  flocks,  and  with  a  spread  of  wings 
of  little  less  than  three  feet,  when  it  approaches  the 
stand,  the  sportsman's  heart  palpitates  with  excite- 


BAY-BIRDS.  175 

ment,  and  the  sky  seems  to  have  lost  its  natural 
blue  and  become  of  a  rich  brown  tint.  As  these 
splendid  birds,  shrieking  their  hoarse  call,  set  their 
wings  for  the  stool,  and  crossing  one  another  in  their 
flight,  pause  in  doubt ;  or,  after  alighting  individu- 
ally, rise  again,  and  hesitate  whether  to  remain  or 
continue  then:  course — the  sportsman,  cowering  in 
his  lair,  and  anxious  to  take  advantage  of  this  glori- 
ous opportunity,  becomes  wildly  eager  with  excite- 
ment ;  and  if,  after  having  by  a  judicious  selection 
brought  several  to  the  ground,  he  recalls  the  de- 
parting flock  which  again  presents  itself  to  his  aim, 
his  rapture  knows  no  bounds,  and  with  his  reloaded 
breech-loader,  he  repeats,  perhaps  more  than  once, 
the  exhilarating  performance. 

This  lordly  bird,  the  largest  of  the  bay-snipe,  is 
often  extremely  gentle,  and  may  be  lured  by  the 
imitation  of  its  cry  at  an  immense  distance,  and 
brought  back  to  the  decoys  several  times,  where  one 
or  more  of  its  companions  may  have  fallen ;  but  at 
other  times  it  is  wild  and  shy.  Individuals  differ 
considerably  in  size,  the  largest  I  ever  saw  having  a 
bill  eleven  inches  long,  and  some  weighing  nearly 
double  as  much  as  others ;  but  all  are  of  a  beautiful 
reddish-brown  or  burnt  sienna  tint,  with  a  yellowish 
shade  on  the  abdomen.  Their  flight  is  steady,  and 
their  flesh  tough,  dark,  and  oily.  Their  eye  is  ex- 
tremely bright,  and  their  shape  graceful. 

'•'•Specific  Character. — Bill  towards  the  end  de- 
curved;  upper  part  of  the  throat,  and  a  band  from 
the  bill  to  the  eye,  light  buff;  general  plumage, 


176  BAY-BIRDS. 

pale  reddish-brown ;  head  and  neck  streaked  with 
dusky ;  upper  parts  marked  with  blackish-brown ; 
tail  barred  with  the  same ;  abdomen,  plain  reddish- 
brown  ;  feet,  bluish.  Length,  twenty-six  inches ; 
wing,  eleven.  The  bill  of  the  specimen  from  which 
this  description  is  taken  measures  eight  inches. 
The  bills  of  individuals  of  this  species  vary,  but  the 
length  is  at  all  times  sufficient  to  determine  the 
species." —  Giraud. 

FTJTE. 

Doe-bird. — Esquimaux  Curlew. 
Numenius  Borealis,  Lath. 

This  is  an  upland  bird,  quite  rare,  but  large,  and 
rather  delicate  eating. 

"  Specific  Character. — Bill,  along  the  gap,  about 
two  inches  and  a  quarter ;  tarsi,  one  inch  and  five- 
eighths  ;  upper  parts,  dusky  brown,  with  pale  yel- 
lowish-white, marked  all  over  with  pale  reddish- 
brown.  Adult  with  a  line  of  white  from  the  bill  to 
the  eye;  eyelids,  white;  upper  part  of  the  head 
dusky,  spotted  in  front  with  greyish-white,  a  medial 
band  of  the  same  color ;  throat,  white ;  neck  and 
breast  yellowish-grey,  with  longitudinal  marks  of 
dusky  on  the  former,  pointed  spots  of  the  same  color 
on  the  latter ;  abdomen,  dull  yellowish -white ;  flanks, 
barred  with  brown  ;  lower  tail  coverts  the  same  as 
the  abdomen ;  tail  and  upper  tail  coverts  barred 
with  pale  reddish-brown  and  dusky,  tipped  with 
yellowish-white ;  upper  parts  brownish,  the  feathers 


BAY -BIRDS.  177 

tipped  with  pale  reddish-brown,  the  scapulars  mar- 
gined and  tipped  with  lighter;  primaries,  dark- 
brown,  margined  internally  with  lighter — the  first 
shaft  white,  with  the  tip  dusky — the  rest  brown. 
Length,  fourteen  inches  and  a  half;  whig,  eight." — 
Criraud. 

8* 


CHAPTER  VI. 

MONTATJK  POINT. 

THE  eastern  end  of  Long  Island,  that  extremity 
which  seems  to  stretch  out  like  the  hand  of  welcome 
towards  the  nations  of  the  old  world,  beckoning 
their  inhabitants  to  our  hospitable  shores,  is  divided 
into  two  long  points  like  the  tines  of  a  fork.  The 
upper  point  shuts  in  Long  Island  Sound,  and  protects 
our  inland  commerce  from  the  violence  of  the  "  Great 
Deep;"  while  the  lower  prong,  which  is  kissed  on 
the  one  side  by  the  blue  waters  of  the  Peconic  Bay, 
and  on  the  other  is  buffeted  by  the  billows  of  the 
great  Atlantic,  is  known  as  Montauk  Point.  The 
heaving  ocean  seems  here  to  have  solidified  itself 
into  a  sandy  soil,  which  rises  and  swells  and  rolls, 
much  after  the  manner  of  its  mighty  prototype, 
except  that  a  scanty  garment  of  tawny  grass  clothes 
the  outlines  of  the  billowy  waste.  "  Cattle  on  a 
thousand  hills  "  here  roam  in  a  state  of,  at  least, 
semi-independence,  which  they  occasionally  assert 
by  charging  upon  the  intruding  sportsman  in  a 
manner  which  may  be  intended  as  playful,  but 
which  looks  somewhat  serious.  For  a  dozen  miles 
or  so  only  four  houses  break  the  monotony  of  the 
dreary  expanse,  and  it  is  to  one  of  these,  distant 


MONTAUK  POINT.  179 

some  nine  miles  from  the  extreme  point,  that  I  am 
about  to  carry  the  reader,  for  here  alone  can  plover- 
shooting  be  enjoyed  in  its  fullest  perfection. 

There  are  numerous  kinds  of  plover  that  make 
their  migratory  passages  along  our  coasts ;  but  the 
one  to  which  I  refer,  while  to  the  epicure  it  ranks 
almost,  if  not  absolutely,  the  first  upon  the  list,  and 
affords,  by  the  swiftness  of  its  flight  and  the  eccen- 
tricity of  its  habits,  a  prize  not  unworthy  of  the 
highest,  efforts  of  the  sportsman,  has  been  the  victim 
of  many  a  misnomer,  but  is  correctly  known  by  the 
appellation  American  Golden  Plover,  Charadrius 
pluvialis  (P.).  The  Plover-family  is  large  and  of  high 
respectability ;  but,  when  "  upon  his  native  heath," 
no  one  of  its  clans  is  entitled  to  wear  a  loftier  crest 
than  that  which  we  now  have  under  discussion. 
His  near  relative,  the  Bartramian  Sandpiper  or 
Grey  Plover,  is  perhaps  more  aristocratically  delicate 
in  his  figure,  and  is  welcomed  as  heartily  at  the 
table  of  the  epicure.  But  he  is  less  social  in  his 
habits,  and  rarely  affords  any  but  single  shots.  He 
does  not  fraternize  with  wooden  counterfeits,  and 
his  mellow  whistle,  as  he  rises  at  an  impracticable 
distance,  rarely  responds  to  even  the  most  seductive 
efforts  of  his  pursuer.  But  our  Golden  friend, 
notwithstanding  his  auriferous  title,  his  superior 
beauty  of  plumage,  his  swiftness  and  strength,  and 
the  savory  reputation  which  he  enjoys  among  the 
knowing-ones,  is  possessed  of  gregarious  habits,  of 
a  singularly  frank  and  unsuspicious  nature,  and  is 
generally  ready  to  stop  and  have  a  chat  with  any- 


180  MOXTAUK  POINT. 

thing  which  bears  the  faintest  resemblance  to  a  bird 
and  a  brother.  It  is  well  for  his  admirers  that  such 
is  his  nature ;  and  although  the  wide  appreciation 
of  his  merits  certainly  causes  great  destruction  among 
his  ranks,  still  the  vast  flocks  which,  sometimes  for 
days  together,  fly  past,  within  sight  of  the  stands, 
unshot  at,  seem  to  warrant  the  hope  that  the  hour 
of  the  final  extinction  of  his  race  is  very  far  distant. 

Taking  the  Long  Island  railroad  to  Greenport  in 
the  early  part  of  September,  and  having  encountered 
and  overcome  the  ordinary  delay  and  difficulty  of 
obtaining  a  sailboat  to  further  prosecute  our  voyage, 
we  find  ourselves  at  last  gliding  on  the  waves  of  the 
beautiful  bay,  past  Shelter  and  Gardiner's  islands, 
and  approaching  the  long  low  line  of  the  Nepeague 
beach.  With  a  favorable  breeze  we  may  expect  to 
be  landed  on  the  smooth  sand  in  a  little  cove,  about 
one  mile  from  our  destination,  in  two  hours  from 
our  time  of  departure ;  but  if  the  wind  is  adverse 
and  the  fates  unpropitious,  we  may  have  to  follow 
the  path  to  Lester's  in  the  dark,  which  will  require 
our  best  instincts,  aided  by  the  guidance  of  the  dis- 
tant booming  of  the  surf,  and  the  assistance  of  our 
especial  guardian  angel. 

Once  there,  however,  and  we  will  be  repaid  for 
our  sufferings;  we  may  find  a  table  covered  with 
"  South-side ''  delicacies,  and  bearing  in  the  centre 
a  huge  dish  of  beautiful,  odorous,  melting  plover, 
cooked  to  a  turn,  and  we  will  undoubtedly  meet 
kindred  spirits  and  generous  sportsmen  who  are  on 
the  same  errand  as  ourselves.  As  we  dispose  of  the 


MONTAUK  POINT.  181 

former,  the  latter  will  pour  into  our  sympathetic 
ears  wonderful  accounts  of  their  sport,  and  rival  one 
another  in  recounting  the  long  shots  and  the  good 
shots  they  have  made,  the  numbers  of  birds  they 
have  killed,  and  the  pounds  of  bass  they  have  caught. 

Under  the  influences  of  a  delicious  supper  and 
moderate  "  nightcap,"  we  seek  our  couch  with  fond 
visions  of  the  great  flocks,  and  hopeful  dreams  that 
we  will  do  as  well  on  the  morrow.  At  earliest  dawn 
we  spring  from  our  bed,  and  rushing  to  the  primitive 
little  casement  have  only  time  to  rejoice  in  the  pro- 
mise of  a  fine  day,  ere  we  note  the  welcome  cry  of 
our  noble  prey  hurrying  westward  over  the  beach. 

To  don  our  shooting  costume,  to  grasp  our  gun 
and  ammunition,  to  load  ourselves  with  the  basket 
containing  decoys  and  incidentals,  and  to  emerge 
into  the  cool  air  of  the  September  morning,  require 
but  a  few  minutes  ;  we  hasten  across  the  sandy  hil- 
locks to  our  appointed  spot,  marked  by  a  hollow 
scooped  out  for  the  concealment  of  former  visitants, 
and  by  the  quantity  of  feathers  and  cigar-stumps 
lying  loosely  around ;  and  with  hands  trembling 
with  impatience,  we  distribute  the  stools  in  what 
seems  to  us  to  be  the  most  artistic  and  seductive 
manner, — for  the  birds  are  now  beginning  to  fly 
just  within  a  tantalizing  yet  impracticable  range,  and 
we  long  for  action. 

How  wild,  how  glorious  is  the  hour  and  the  scene ! 
The  heavy  boom  of  the  ocean,  which  rolls  almost  at 
our  feet,  is  relieved  by  the  soft,  mellow  notes  of  the 
sea-birds  which  float  through  the  air  in  varied  yet 


182  MONTAUK  POINT. 

harmonious  cadence,  and  by  the  low  of  distant  cattle, 
just  shaking  off  their  slothful  dreams.  Hardly  have 
we  disposed  our  body  to  the  requisite  flatness,  when 
a  chattering  chorus  of  melody  makes  our  heart  leap 
with  eagerness,  and  our  eyes  strain  with  impatience 
to  discern  its  source.  Aha,  we  have  them  now! 
that  small,  erratic  cloud  to  the  eastward,  bearing 
directly  before  the  wind  towards  our  covert,  sends 
a  thrill  through  our  being,  which  the  whole  "  spa- 
cious firmament  on  high,"  even  on  the  loveliest,  of 
nights,  has,  we  honestly  confess  it,  never  succeeded 
in  imparting.  On  they  come,  nearer,  nearer,  nearer. 
We  pucker  up  our  lips  to  greet  their  approach,  but 
the  saucy  gale  renders  our  rude  efforts  futile,  and 
we  commit  our  trust  to  Providence  and  our  painted 
counterfeits.  Now  they  are  within  easy  range,  but 
somewhat  scattered ;  with  a  violent  effort  at  self- 
command,  worthy  of  a  higher  cause,  we  remain  mo- 
tionless, for  there  are  evident  indications  of  a  social 
spirit  in  that  joyous  group.  They  pause,  they 
swerve,  they  wheel  upon  their  tracks,  and  with 
motionless  wings  and  a  sweet  low-murmured  greet- 
ing, they  approach  the  fatal  stools.  How  rash  the 
confidence !  How  foul  the  treachery !  But,  we 
must  also  confess,  how  intense  the  excitement,  as 
we  pull  the  right  trigger  at  the  critical  moment,  and 
then,  as  the  deluded  victims  scatter  wildly,  with  an 
outburst  of  appeal  against  man's  cruelty,  give  them 
the  left  barrel,  and  add  three  more  to  the  list  of 
feathered  martyrs.  With  lightning  speed,  their 
thinned  ranks  vanish  beyond  the  neighboring  sand- 


MONTAUK  POINT.  183 

hills,  and  reloading  our  gun,  we  hasten  to  gather  up 
the  slain. 

Six  with  the  right  and  three  with  the  left  barrel, 
are  pretty  well  for  a  beginning  ;  but  we  had  better 
have  remained  at  our  post,  for  while  we  are  chasing 
up  one  of  the  wounded  birds,  two  more  flocks  pass 
within  easy  range  of  our  hiding-place.  Hurriedly 
twisting  the  neck  of  the  fugitive,  we  resume  our 
lonely  watch,  and  before  the  breakfast-hour  of  eight, 
which  our  unwontedly  early  exertions  have  made  a 
somewhat  serious  epoch,  we  have  had  two  more 
double  shots,  and  increased  our  score  to  twenty- one. 
Beautiful,  "  beatitiful  exceedingly"  is  the  burden  of 
game  which  we  proudly  carry  back  to  our  inn,  leav- 
ing our  stools  as  they  stand. 

A  hearty  breakfast  makes  us  feel  like  a  new  man, 
and,  after  a  fair  discussion  of  its  merits,  lighting  our 
pipe,  we  again  wend'  our  way  to  the  scene  of  our 
triumph.  The  cry  is  still  they  come ;  flock  after 
flock  presents  its  compliments,  and  leaves  memen- 
toes of  its  presence ;  but  towards  noon  the  hot  sun 
disposes  the  birds  to  listless  inactivity,  the  flight 
diminishes,  and  finally  stops.  Returning  to  the  house 
with  a  bag  larger  by  only  three  birds  than  that  of 
the  morning,  we  kill  the  hours  before  dinner  by  a 
few  casts  into  the  breakers,  and  land  a  ten-pound 
bass. 

With  sharpened  appetite,  we  welcome  the  savory 
dinner,  and  are  quite  contented  to  rest  and  let  our 
prey  rest  till  five  o'clock,  when  fifteen  more  birds 
reward  our  post-prandial  exertions,  and  make  up  a 


184  MONTAUK  POINT. 

total  for  the  day  of  sixty  plover  and  one  bass.  We 
sink  to  sleep  that  night  with  the  proud  conscious- 
ness that  our  first  day's  plover-shooting  has  been  a 
great  success;  our  heart  prays  silently  for  a  con- 
tinuance of  our  good  fortune,  and  we  indulge  in 
sweet  thoughts  of  home,  and  the  pleasure  our  return 
laden  with  spoils  will  cause,  when  our  friends  greet 
us  and  them  at  the  social  board. 

The  next  day  is  as  delightful ;  the  sweet,  thrilling 
music  again  fills  the  air  at  short  intervals ;  again  our 
trusty  breech-loader  sends  its  charge  into  the  thick- 
est of  the  "brown,"  or  cuts  down  the  straggler  look- 
ing for  "  former  companions  all  vanished  and  gone." 
Again  we  call  the  swift-travelling  flock  from  the 
very  zenith,  or  whistle  our  lips  into  a  blister,  endea- 
voring to  attract  the  wary  knowing  ones  that  pause 
to  look,  only  to  flee  the  faster ;  and  the  night  finds 
us  with  a  still  larger  bag,  but  without  a  bass.  So 
eager  have  we  become,  so  fearful  that  we  should  lose 
a  shot,  and  judging  by  the  accumulating  clouds  in 
the  east  that  on  the  morrow  it  may  storm,  that  we 
stay  out  all  day,  except  the  necessary  moments  for 
our  meals,  and  give  no  thought  to  the  monsters  of 
the  deep. 

Nor  were  we  mistaken ;  the  morrow  comes,  the 
gathering  storm  has  broken,  and  no  creature  of 
mortal  mould  can  face  its  fury — at  least  no  bird, 
with  any  pretensions  to  common  sense  or  respecta- 
bility, would  imperil  his  plumes  by  an  unnecessary 
exposure  to  such  an  ordeal.  So  with  forced  patience, 
we  get  through  the  live-long  day  as  best  we  can ; 


MONTAUK  POINT.  185 

and  on  the  following  day,  hail  a  sky  as  cloudless  as 
the  most  ardent  sportsman  could  desire.  But  alas ! 
the  flight  has  gone  by,  scared  away  perhaps  by  the 
storm,  or  retreating  before  the  advancing  fall ;  and 
when  we  take  our  seat  at  the  breakfast-table,  we 
are  obliged  to  admit  that  only  nine  birds  have  fallen 
to  our  gun. 

But  the  irrepressible  and  inextinguishable  Lester 
rises  triumphant  in  this  emergency.  He  boldly  sug- 
gests that  there  must  be  some  sluggards,  who  have 
tarried,  spell-bound  by  the  attractions  of  such  a  ter- 
restrial, or,  rather  ornithological,  paradise ;  and 
accordingly,  he  hitches  up  a  venerable  specimen  of 
the  genus  " Equus"  and  we  start  for  an  excursion 
"  over  the  hills  and  far  away."  Before  we  have  ad- 
vanced a  couple  of  miles  we  have  bagged  a  half 
dozen  solitary  specimens  of  Bartram's  Sandpiper  or 
Grey  Plover,  so  dear  to  the  sportsman  and  the 
gourmand,  but  have  seen  no  trace  of  the  object  of 
our  pursuit.  When,  suddenly,  as  we  surmount  one 
of  the  swelling  eminences  which  are  the  prevailing 
feature  of  this  district  of  country,  we  come  upon  a 
sight  such  as,  perhaps,  but  few  sportsmen  have  ever 
beheld.  A  gentle  hollow  spreads  before  us,  for 
several  acres,  literally  covered  with  the  ranks  of  the 
much-desired,  the  matchless  Golden  Plover. 

As  they  stand  in  serried  legions,  the  white  mark 
on  their  heads  gives  a  strange  chequered  weirdness 
to  the  phalanx:  and  we  involuntarily  pause,  spell- 
bound by  the  novelty  of  the  spectacle.  Lester  him- 
self, though  an  old  hand,  owns  that  he  has  never 


186  MONTAUK  POINT. 

before  gazed  on  such  a  sight.  There  they  stand 
with  heads  erect,  and  bodies  motionless,  just  out  of 
gunshot.  Their  number  is  computed  by  our  com- 
panion to  be  not  less  than  three  thousand,  closely 
packed,  and  apparently  awaiting  our  onset.  What 
is  to  be  done?  Delay  may  be  fatal,  but  precipi- 
tancy would  be  equally  so:  and  our  pulses  stop 
beating  under  the  stress  of  the  emergency.  Our 
horse  also  stops,  obedient  to  an  involuntary  pull  of 
the  reins.  We  accept  the  omen,  and  cautiously  de- 
scend from  our  vehicle ;  warily  crawling  to  within 
seventy  yards,  we  halt  as  we  see  unmistakable  evi- 
dences of  uneasiness  and  suspicion  among  the 
crowded  ranks.  They  stoop,  they  run,  they  rise 
with  "  a  sounding  roar,"  to  which  the  united  report 
of  our  four  barrels  savagely  responds.  Away,  away 
•with  headlong  speed,  scatters  and  dissolves  that 
multitudinous  host,  and  we  hasten  to  secure  our 
spoils. 

But,  seventy  yards  make  a  long  range  for  plover- 
shooting,  and  we  are  somewhat  chagrined  to  find 
that  only  six  dead  and  seven  wounded  birds  remain 
as  proofs  of  the  accuracy  of  our  aim,  and  the  effi- 
ciency of  our  weapons.  Hurriedly  we  plant  our 
stools,  hoping  for  the  return  of  at  least  a  consider- 
able portion  of  the  vanished  forces ;  but  they  have 
apparently  had  enough  of  our  society,  and,  after 
two  hours  spent  in  ambush,  with  only  an  occasional 
shot  at  single  stragglers  or  small  flocks,  we  wend 
our  way  back  to  the  house. 

On  the  morrow  we  kill  a  dozen  birds  over  the 


MONTAUK  POINT.  187 

stools,  before  breakfast,  among  which  are  two  spe- 
cimens of  the  beautiful  Esquimaux  Curlew  or  Fute, 
as  he  is  commonly  called,  and  which  seems  to  be  on 
terms  of  the  closest  intimacy  with  our  Golden  friend. 
We  find  him  to  be  a  heavier  bird,  equally  inclined 
to  obesity,  and,  as  future  experiments  satisfy  us, 
nearly  as  perfect  in  delicate  richness  of  flavor. 

At  nine  o'clock  Dobbin  is  again  harnessed,  and 
we  start  for  the  scene  of  yesterday's  exploit.  But 
the  sighing  wind  now  sweeps  over  only  a  deserted 
moor,  and  we  direct  our  course  towards  Stratton's, 
to  make  an  inspection  of  Great  Pond.  Here,  by 
good  luck  and  management,  we  bag  five  teal  and  a 
black  duck,  as  well  as  three  passing  plover.  A  few 
large  flocks  of  the  latter  are  seen,  but  they  are  wary 
and  unapproachable;  and  after  several  fruitless  ef- 
forts, we  abandon  their  pursuit  and  start  for  dinner. 

Having  rendered  full  justice  to  the  merits  of  a 
bountiful  repast,  which,  if  it  is  made  prominent  in 
this  account,  was  still  more  prominent  in  our  hungry 
thoughts,  we  stroll  to  the  ocean-side  and  make  a 
dozen  casts  for  bass,  but  our  luck  seems  to  be  on  the 
turn  and  we  decide  to  leave  on  the  morrow  for 
Greenport.  About  an  hour  before  sunset,  a  few 
birds  are  on  the  wing,  and  we  again  seek  the  field 
of  our  first  success.  Here  we  make  our  final  effort, 
and  are  rewarded  with  five  noble  victims,  killed  singly 
at  long  shots,  and  we  restore  our  breech-loader  to 
its  case.  We  have  no  reason  to  be  dissatisfied  with 
our  four-days'  sport,  and  it  is  with  a  certain  reluc- 
tance, and  a  sincere  resolve  to  renew  our  visit  at  an 


J88  MONTAUK  POINT. 

early  date,  that  we  pack  our  valise  in  anticipation  of 
a  start  on  the  morrow. 

Our  team  is  at  the  door;  we  bid  adieu  to  some 
ladies  of  the  household  (of  whom  while  writing 
these  lines  we  have  thought  much,  though  we  have, 
until  now,  said  nothing),  and,  mounting  by  Lester's 
side,  we  trot  merrily  over  the  hills,  till  we  reach  the 
deep  sandy  desert  of  the  Nepeague  beach.  "A 
long  pull,  and  a  strong  pull ''  for  an  hour,  brings  us 
to  "terra  firma"  again,  and  rattling  through  the 
quaint  old  town  of  Easthampton,  after  a  charming 
drive,  we  reach  Sag  Harbor,  where  a  most  absurdly 
diminutive  steamer,  of  just  seven-horse  power,  awaits 
to  convey  us  to  Greenport.  We  part  from  our  host 
with  sincere  gratitude  for  the  genial  kindness  which 
he  has  shown  to  us  during  our  visit,  and  step  on  the 
naiTOw  deck  of  the  tiny  craft.  A  voyage  of  thirteen 
miles,  made  under  a  full  head  of  steam  in  just  two 
hours  and  a  quarter,  brings  us  once  more  to  the 
beautiful  village  of  Greenport,  where  the  cars  are 
awaiting  us. 

We  return  with  a  bag  full  of  game,  and  the  follow- 
ing general  conclusions  and  precepts  impressed  upon 
our  mind :  In  plover  shooting  use  No.  6  shot  in  the 
left  barrel,  for  the  birds  are  of  wonderful  strength 
and  require  to  be  hit  hard,  or  they  will  fly  an  immense 
distance  even  if  "  sick  unto  death,"  and  if  crippled, 
will  sneak,  and  hide,  and  run,  and  cause  much  loss 
of  time  that  is  precious  indeed.  Do  not  fire  too 
soon  ;  as  the  flock  will  generally  "  double  "  if  allowed 
sufficient  time,  and  then  is  the  chance  to  "  rake  'em 


MONTAUK  POINT.  189 

down."    Be  patient,  keep  cool,  aim  ahead  of  the 
birds^  and  keep  wide  awake. 

On  almost  any  day,  from  the  25th  of  August  to 
the  10th  of  September,  there  are  sport  and  pleasure 
to  be  had  among  the  wild  sand-hills  of  Montauk ; 
and  if  there  has  been  a  north-easterly  storm,  with 
pitchforks  full  of  rain  and  caps  full  of  wind,  there 
will  be  such  an  abundance  of  birds  as  only  experience 
can  conceive  of  or  appreciate.  That  is  an  event 
that  most  of  us  have  yet  to  wait  for.  Reader,  I 
wish  I  were  sufficiently  unselfish  to  say  honestly — 
may  you  enjoy  it  first. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

BAIL    SHOOTING. 

SUCCESS  in  this  delightful  sport  depends  as  much 
upon  the  proper  accessories,  together  with  experi- 
ence in  minor  matters,  as  in  the  great  art  of  pro- 
perly handling  the  gun.  The  best  shot,  badly 
equipped,  will  be  surpassed  by  an  inferior  marks- 
man accustomed  to  the  business,  and  thoroughly 
fitted  out  for  it.  The  shooting  is  done  among  high 
reeds,  and  from  small,  light,  and  unstable  skiffs, 
which  are  poled  over  muddy  shallows  with  an  un- 
steady motion  that  puts  an  end  to  skill  which  is  not 
founded  on  long  practice.  The  sport  lasts  only  during 
the  few  hours  of  high  water,  when  the  entire  day's 
bag  must  be  made,  and  requires,  after  the  bird  has 
been  killed,  a  sharp  eye  to  retrieve  him  amid  the 
weeds  and  floating  grass. 

The  number  bagged,  however,  is  sometimes  pro- 
digious ;  and  although  we  rarely  now  hear  of  hun- 
dreds killed  "  in  a  tide,"  as  was  formerly  not  unusual, 
the  shots  are  still  frequently  rapid,  and  the  result 
satisfactory.  The  bird  rises  heavily,  its  long  legs 
hanging  down  behind ;  flying  slowly,  it  presents  an 
easy  mark  to  any  one  upon  terra  firma,  and  if  not  shot 
at,  will  alight  after  proceeding  thirty  or  forty  yards. 

It  comes  on  from  the  north  during  the  early  part 


RAIL-SHOOTING.  191 

of  September,  and  disappears  so  instantaneously 
with  the  first  heavy  frost,  that  our  superstitious 
baymen  imagine  it  retires  into  the  mud.  It  can, 
however,  fly  strongly,  as  I  have  occasionally  had 
unpleasant  evidence  under  peculiar  circumstances, 
and  in  wild,  windy  weather.  During  low  water, 
when  it  can  run  upon  the  muddy  bottom  among  the 
thick  stalks,  which  it  does  rapidly,  it  can  hardly  be 
flushed  by  any  but  the  strongest  and  toughest  dog, 
and  is  not  frequently  pursued  ;  although  many  per- 
sons enjoy  the  hard  walking  and  exposure  of  this 
plan,  preferring  to  tramp  over  the  quaking  surface 
of  our  broad  salt  meadows,  and  flushing  the  rail 
from  amid  some  tuft  of  reeds,  kill  him  with  the  aid 
of  their  loved  fellow-playmate,  a  high-strung  setter 
or  untiring  water  spaniel. 

As  the  tide  rises,  however,  and  oovers  the  bottom 
with  a  few  inches  of  water,  the  rail,  caught  feeding 
among  its  favorite  wild  oats,  or  on  the  grains  of  the 
high  reeds,  and  alarmed  at  the  advancing  boat,  is 
forced  to  take  wing  and  present  an  easy  mark  to  its 
destroyer.  But  if  missed,  although  marked  down 
to  an  inch,  it  rarely  rises  a  second  time,  having  pro- 
bably escaped  by  swimming — a  thorough  knowledge 
of  which  is  among  its  numerous  accomplishments. 
The  rail  has  a  long,  thin,  and  soft  body,  which  it 
appears  to  have  the  faculty  of  compressing;  as  it  can 
glide  amid  the  thick  stems  of  reeds  and  grass  with 
wonderful  rapidity ;  and  if  wounded,  it  will  dive 
and  swim  under  water,  leaving  its  bill  only  project- 
ing, so  as  to  bid  defiance  to  pursuit. 


192  RAIL-SHOOTING. 

The  first  necessity  of  equipment  for  this  sport  is 
a  breech-loading  gun,  which  not  only  enables  the 
sportsman  to  kill  double  the  number  of  birds,  but 
will  occasionally  give  him  the  benefit,  by  a  rapid 
change  in  the  charge,  of  a  favorable  presentation  of 
a  chance  flock  of  ducks.  But  as  many  persons,  out 
of  a  want  of  knowledge  or  of  funds,  still  cling  to 
the  old  muzzle-loader,  it  may  be  well  briefly  to  men- 
tion the  articles  that  tend  to  modify  its  inferiority. 

Of  course,  as  the  shooting  occupies  but  a  few 
hours,  and  in  good  days  the  birds  are  perpetually  on 
the  wing,  it  is  essential  to  load  rapidly  ;  and  to  do 
this  the  sportsman  places  on  a  thwart  before  him  a 
tin  box  divided  into  compartments  for  powder,  shot, 
caps,  and  wads,  or,  as  I  prefer,  two  boxes,  one  filled 
with  powder  and  the  other  with  the  other  materials. 
For  many  reasons  there  should  be  a  lid  over  the 
powder — to  prevent  its  being  ignited  by  a  chance 
spark  or  blown  away  by  a  strong  wind — and  the 
ordinary  flask  is  frequently  used  in  spite  of  the  con- 
sequent delay.  A  double  scoop,  made  of  tin  or 
brass,  and  regulated  to  the  precise  load,  is  placed 
among  the  powder  and  the  shot,  and  a  solid  loading- 
stick  lies  near  at  hand. 

By  these  means  the  rapidity  of  loading  is  more 
than  doubled ;  the  powder  is  dropped  into  both  bar- 
rels at  once  by  means  of  the  double  scoop,  wads  are 
driven  home  by  a  single  blow  of  the  rod,  both  bar- 
rels are  charged  with  shot  at  once  in  the  same  man- 
ner, the  caps  are  within  easy  reach,  and  the  gun  is 
loaded  in  less  than  half  the  time  consumed  in  the 


KAIL-SHOOTING.  193 

ordinary  process.  The  shot  may  be  made  into  car- 
tridges of  paper  with  a  wad  at  the  upper  end,  and 
thus  a  few  additional  of  the  precious  seconds  saved. 
Both  barrels  are  discharged  before  either  is  reloaded, 
and  the  birds  are  retrieved  immediately. 

The  sportsman  stands  erect,  without  any  support 
to  modify  the  unsteadiness  consequent  upon  the 
irregular  motion  of  the  boat,  and  requires  practice, 
not  merely  to  enable  him  to  take  aim,  but  even  to 
retain  his  footing.  Where  the  water  is  low  and  the 
reeds  strong,  this  difficulty  is  augmented,  as  the  boat 
entirely  loses  its  way  after  every  push,  and  advances 
by  jerks  that  utterly  confound  a  novice.  Experi- 
ence, however,  being  acquired  in  loading  rapidly 
and  in  retaining  his  balance,  the  sportsman's  labors 
are  easy;  but  the  punter  requires  many  different 
qualities,  and  upon  his  excellence  mainly  depends 
the  final  result. 

He  must  possess  judgment  to  select  the  best 
ground,  strength  to  urge  on  the  boat  unflaggingly, 
and  an  inordinate  development  of  the  bump  of  locality 
to  mark  the  dead  birds.  The  bird  once  killed  and 
the  sportsman  part  ended,  then  the  punter  displays 
his  ability ;  and  if  thoroughly  versed  in  his  craft 
will  push  the  boat  through  tall  reeds,  and  matted 
weeds,  and  fallen  oat-stalks,  and  drifted  grass,  with 
wonderful  accuracy  to  the  very  spot,  and  peering 
down  amid  the  roots,  will  distinguish  the  brown 
feathers  almost  covered  with  water  and  hidden  by 
the  vegetable  growth. 

In  order  to  retrieve  quickly,  a  wide-meshed  scap- 
9 


194  RAIL-SHOOTING. 

net  is  a  great  convenience ;  but  to  mark  well,  a  man 
must  be  endowed  by  nature  with  that  peculiar  gift. 
Among  the  vast  mass  of  undistinguishable  marine 
plants  that  spring  from  the  muddy  bottom  and  rise  a 
few  inches  or  many  feet  above  the  surface,  it  would 
seem  impossible  to  determine,  within  an  approach  to 
accuracy,  where  some  bird,  visible  only  for  a  moment 
and  cut  down  when  just  topping  the  reeds,  has 
fallen  ;  and  when  another  bird  rises  to  meet  the  same 
fate,  and  perhaps  a  dozen  are  down  before  the  first 
is  retrieved,  successful  marking  becomes  a  miracle. 
With  some  punters  on  the  Delaware,  where  their 
names  are  famous,  so  wonderful  is  the  precision  that 
every  bird,  if  killed  outright,  will  be  recovered,  and 
even  a  poor  marksman  will  make  a  respectable  return; 
but  when  the  gentleman  shoots  badly  and  the  man 
marks  worse,  rail-shooting  is  unprofitable. 

For  this  sport,  thus  followed,  it  will  be  seen  that 
a  punter  is  indispensable,  and  it  is  made  the  business 
of  a  large  class  of  men  along  the  salt  marshes  where 
the  rail  most  do  congregate ;  and  wherever  a  punter 
cannot  be  obtained,  as  in  the  wilder  portions  of  our 
country,  rail-shooting  cannot  be  had. 

From  the  necessity  for  rapid  firing,  the  immense 
advantage  of  a  breech-loader  must  be  apparent ;  the 
tide  rarely  serves  for  over  two  or  three  hours,  and 
to  kill  more  than  a  hundred  birds  in  that  time  with 
a  muzzle-loader  is  a  remarkable  feat,  as  it  requires 
almost  the  entire  time  for  the  mere  loading  and  firing 
of  the  gun ;  but  the  breech-loader  may  be  charged 
in  an  instant,  and  enables  the  sportsman  to  improve 


BAIL-SHOOTING.  195 

the  lucky  chance  of  coming  upon  a  goodly  collection 
of  birds,  and  make  the  most  of  the  scanty  time 
permitted  to  him. 

None  of  those  vexatious  mistakes  that  occasionally 
happen  to  the  best  sportsmen  can  befall  him ;  the  shot 
cannot  get  into  the  wrong  barrel,  nor  the  cap  be  for- 
gotten; the  powder  is  not  exposed  to 'ashes  from  a 
careless  man's  cigar;  and  there  being  no  hurry,  there 
is  more  probability  of  steady  nerves  and  a  true 
aim. 

The  charge  should  be  light — three-quarters  of  an 
ounce  of  shot  and  two  drachms  of  powder  being  abun- 
dant to  kill  the  soft  and  gentle  rail — and  pellets  at 
least  as  fine  as  No.  9  are  preferable  to  coarser  sizes. 
Old  cartridges,  that  have  been  split  and  mended  by 
gumming  a  piece  of  paper  over  the  crack,  may  be 
used  in  the  breech-loader,  provided  the  sportsman 
desires  to  indulge  in  praiseworthy  economy,  or  is 
deficient  in  a  supply. 

The  sport  is  extremely  exciting :  the  boat  is  forced 
along  with  considerable  rustling  and  breaking  of 
stems  and  stalks ;  the  bright  sun  streams  down 
upon  the  yellow  reeds  and  lights  up  the  variegated 
foliage  of  the  distant  shore  ;  the  waves  of  the  bay  or 
river,  rising  apparently  to  a  level  with  the  eye, 
sparkle  in  the  gentle  breeze  that  bends  the  sedge 
grass  in  successive  waves ;  neighboring  boats  come 
and  go,  approach  and  recede  ;  the  rapid  reports  are 
heard  in  all  directions,  like  fireworks  on  the  Fourth 
of  July ;  the  sportsman  stands  erect,  and  eager  with 
delirious  excitement,  near  the  bow ;  the  punter 


196  RAIL-SHOOTING. 

balances  himself,  and  wields  his  long  pole  dexter- 
ously on  a  small  platform  at  the  stern. 

Silently  a  bird,  rising  close  to  the  boat,  wings  its 
way,  with  pendent  legs  and  feeble  strokes,  towards 
some  one  of  its  numerous  hiding-places  ;  instantly 
the  punter  plants  his  pole  firmly  in  tlie  bottom,  hold- 
ing the  skiff  stationary,  the  sportsman  brings  up  his 
piece,  and,  with  deliberate  aim,  sends  the  charge 
straight  after  the  doomed  rail,  which  pitches  head- 
long out  of  sight.  The  punter  has  marked  him  by 
that  single  wild  rice-stalk  with  the  broken  top,  and 
heads  the  boat  at  once  towards  the  place ;  but  ere 
he  has  advanced  a  dozen  feet,  another  bird  starts  and 
offers  to  the  expectant  sportsman,  who  has  his  gun 
still  "  at  a  ready,"  another  favorable  chance,  and, 
meeting  the  same  fate,  falls  into  that  low  bunch  of 
matted  wild  oats.  The  breech-loader  opens,  the 
charges  are  extracted  and  others  inserted,  just  in 
time  to  make  sure  of  two  rail  that  rise  simul- 
taneously, still  ere  the  first  has  been  reached,  and 
which  are  both  tumbled  over  and  marked  down — 
one,  however,  wing-tipped,  and  never  to  be  seen  by 
mortal  eye  again. 

Thus  have  I  experienced  it  on  the  Delaware,  at 
Hackensack,  and,  in  former  days,  among  the  tribu- 
taries of  Jamaica  Bay,  and  at  many  other  places  where 
more  or  less  success  has  attended  me.  Although 
never  having  enjoyed  great  luck,  never  having 
advanced  beyond  the  first  hundred,  and  claiming  to 
be  no  such  marksman  as  several  of  my  friends,  I 
have  had  wondrous  sport.  Of  a  good  day,  when  the 


KAIL-SHOOTING.  197 

tide  is  favorable  and  the  game  plenty,  the  excitement 
is  continuous,  and  increased  by  a  sense  of  compe- 
tition. 

Other  sportsmen  are  on  the  same  ground,  stop- 
ping probably  at  the  same  hotel  and  shooting  in 
close  proximity — occasionally  too  close,  if  they  are 
thoughtless  or  careless.  Not  only  will  a  charge  of 
mustard  seed  sometimes  rattle  against  the  boat,  but 
is  apt,  now  and  then,  to  pierce  the  clothes  and  pene- 
trate the  skin,  followed  by  an  irritation  of  mind  and 
body ;  but  when  the  tide  has  fallen,  and  the  sport  is 
over,  a  comparison  of  the  bag  made  by  each  sports- 
man is  inevitable,  and  no  general  assertions  of  round 
numbers  will  answer,  but  the  birds  must  be  pro- 
duced. It  is  vain  to  claim  what  cannot  be  exhibited, 
and  more  than  useless  to  talk  of  the  immense  quan- 
tities that  were  killed  but  not  retrieved ;  such  ex- 
cuses are  answered  by  ridicule,  and  if  the  poor  shot 
would  avoid  being  a  butt,  he  must  be  modest  and 
submissive. 

There  is  danger  too,  at  times,  although  an  upset 
in  the  weeds  can  result  in  nothing  worse  than  a  wet- 
ting of  oneself  and  one's  ammunition,  and  the  ruin 
of  the  day's  enjoyment;  but  I  was  once  on  the  Dela- 
ware, opposite  Chester,  when  a  fierce  north-wester 
was  blowing,  which  had  driven  much  of  the  water  out 
of  the  bay  and  river.  The  tide,  of  course,  was  poor, 
having  difficulty  to  rise  at  all  against  the  gale,  which 
kept  on  increasing  every  moment,  and  the  birds 
were  scarce  and  difficult  to  flush.  The  work  of 
poling  was  laborious ;  the  boats  stopped  after  every 


198  RAIL-SHOOTING. 

push,  and  the  heavy  swell  from  the  broad  river,  roll- 
ing in  a  long  distance  among  the  reeds,  added  a  new 
motion  to  their  natural  unsteadiness. 

Of  course  the  sport  was  not  encouraging,  and  the 
accidents  were  numerous ;  several  sportsmen  fell  over- 
board, one  upset  his  boat,  and  my  man  came  so  near 
it — his  pole  slipping  at  the  moment  he  was  exerting 
his  utmost  strength  upon  it — that  his  efforts  to  re- 
cover his  balance  reminded  me  of  dancing  the  horn- 
pipe in  a  state  of  frenzy.  He  kicked  up  more  capers, 
and  indulged  in  more  contortions  on  the  little  plat- 
form, scarcely  a  foot  square,  which  he  occupied,  than 
I  supposed  possible  without  dislocation  of  a  limb ; 
but  he  managed,  however,  to  regain  his  equilibrium, 
and  neither  fell  overboard  nor  upset  the  skiff. 

These  little  incidents,  and  the  shooting,  such  as  it 
was,  kept  the  party,  which  was  numerous,  interested 
until  the  time  came  for  recrossing  the  rirer  to  our 
hotel.  There  was  no  stopping-place  on  our  present 
side  of  the  river,  which  presented  one  apparently 
endless  view  of  waving  reeds ;  and  the  alternative 
was  simply  to  cross  the  open  river,  or  pass  the  night 
in  our  boats.  The  swell  had  increased  into  high 
waves  capped  with  snowy  foam,  and  threatened  de- 
struction to  our  low-sided,  short,  and  narrow  boats. 
Many  were  the  consultations  between  the  various 
punters,  and  grave  were  the  doubts  expressed  of  a 
safe  crossing ;  but  as  there  was  no  help  for  it,  the 
trial  had  to  be  made. 

Selections  were  chosen  of  favorable  starting-points, 
and  most  of  the  party  put  out  at  about  the  same 


RAIL-SHOOTING.  199 

time — the  sportsman  lying  on  the  bottom  at  full 
length  in  the  stern,  and  the  oarsman  timing  his 
strokes  to  the  violence  of  the  sea.  The  waves  broke 
over  us  continually;  it  was  necessary  to  bail  every 
few  minutes,  and  several  had  to  put  back  when  they 
met  with  some  more  than  usually  heavy  wave,  and 
take  a  fresh  start,  after  emptying  the  superfluous 
water.  Of  course  we  were  drenched  to  the  skin, 
but  found  a  species  of  consolation  in  knowing  that 
no  one  had  the  advantage  of  another.  Had  any  of 
our  boats  upset,  although  we  might  have  clung  to 
them  and  drifted  back  among  the  reeds,  we  could 
have  effected  a  landing  nowhere,  and  would  proba- 
bly have  terminated  our  career  then  and  there ;  had 
this  happened  to  a  certain  little  skiff  that  held  two 
men  and  very  few  rail,  this  account  would  probably 
never  have  been  written.  However,  fate  ordained 
otherwise,  and  we  reached  our  destination  in  safety. 
The  best  locality  for  rail-shooting  is  along  the 
marshy  shores  of  the  Delaware  River,  above  and 
below  Philadelphia ;  many  birds  are  also  killed  on 
the  Hackensack  and  the  Connecticut ;  they  are 
abundant  on  the  James  River,  and  doubtless  further 
south,  but  are  not  shot  there ;  and  they  are  found 
scattered  over  the  fresh  as  well  as  the  salt  marshes 
throughout  the  entire  country.  I  have  killed  them 
in  the  corn-fields  of  Illinois  while  in  pursuit  of  the 
prairie  chicken,  and  have  bagged  several  and  heard 
many  among  the  wild  rice  of  the  drowned  shores  of 
Lake  Erie.  They  are  a  migratory  bird,  and  pass  to 
the  southward  in  the  early  fall  rather  in  advance  of 


200  RAIL-SHOOTING. 

the  English  snipe,  and  alight  at  any  damp  spots  for 
a  temporary  rest  wherever  the  growth  of  plants 
promises  nutriment. 

They  are  often  flushed  by  the  snipe-shooter,  to- 
gether with  the  larger  fresh-water  rail,  rallus  elegans, 
and  their  curious  cry  resounds  along  the  reedy 
marshes  where  the  wild-fowler  pursues  the  early 
ducks.  Nevertheless,  they  are  difficult  to  flush  and 
kill  where  there  is  no  tide  to  drive  them  from  their 
muddy  retreats,  and  where  the  ground  is  too  heavy 
for  a  dog ;  and,  comparatively  speaking,  on  fresh 
water,  unless  the  wind  shall  have  caused  a  tempo- 
rary rise,  they  are  safe  from  injury. 

Their  voices  reply  with  the  guttural  "  krek-krek- 
krek"  to  the  noise  of  the  boat,  and  tauntingly  boast 
of  their  abundance  and  their  security.  Moreover,  in 
a  new  country,  where  larger  game  is  still  plentiful, 
the  excellences  of  the  tender  but  diminutive  rail  are 
lost  sight  of  by  comparison  with  his  more  profitable 
compeers ;  and  except  along  the  Atlantic  coast,  he 
is  known  as  a  game-bird  neither  to  the  sportsman 
nor  the  cook. 

From  the  fact  that  he  is  rarely  seen  in  the  spring, 
and  does  not  at  that  season  give  his  enemies  a  chance 
to  prevent  his  reaching  his  nesting-places  at  the  far 
north — but  only  visits  us  during  a  few  short  weeks  in 
the  fall,  and  then  is'  not  much  exposed,  except  in  cer- 
tain localities — his  race  will  be  preserved  in  undimi- 
nished  numbers  for  many  generations  ;  the  light  skiffs 
will  carry  the  eager  city  sportsman  along  the  shores 
of  the  Delaware,  the  Hackensack,  and  the  cove  on 


BAIL-SHOOTING.  201 

the  Connecticut,  and  the  rapid  reports  will  continue 
to  reverberate  over  the  reedy  marshes. 

There  are  two  varieties,  the  short-billed  or  sora- 
rail,  rattus  Carolinus  ;  and  the  long-billed,  or  Vir- 
ginia rail,  rattus  Virginianus,  which  are  easily  dis- 
tinguished by  this  peculiarity,  and  differ,  also, 
slightly  in  plumage.  The  sora-rail  are  by  far  the 
most  .numerous,  especially  along  the  sea-coast,  and 
are  usually  referred  to  as  "  the  rail,"  but  both  are 
shot  and  eaten  indiscriminately.  Their  habits,  mode 
of  flight,  and  gastronomic  qualities,  appear  to  be 
identical,  but  I  think  the  Virginia  rail  are  propor- 
tionally more  numerous  at  the  West,  having  a 
slight  preference,  perhaps,  for  the  fresh  water. 
Their  food  must  be,  however,  essentially  different ; 
for  while  the  sora,  on  account  of  its  short  bill,  must 
be  confined  to  the  seeds  of  its  favorite  reed,  zimosa, 
or  the  grains  of  the  wild  oats,  the  Virginia  rail,  with 
its  longer  bill,  also  draws  much  of  its  nourishment 
from  snails  and  aquatic  insects,  and  is  considered  by 
some  less  delicate  in  flavor  than  the  former  variety. 

About  the  fifth  of  September,  before  the  English 
snipe  are  numerous,  although  their  taunting  "  scaip  " 
may  be  occasionally  heard  on  their  broad,  open 
feeding-grounds ;  ere  the  ducks  have  marshalled 
their  legions  in  retreat  from  the  chilly  blasts  of  the 
north,  after  the  bay-birds,  with  the  exception  of  the 
"  short-neck,"  shall  have  mainly  passed  to  the  south- 
ward, and  before  the  quail  are  large  enough  to  kill — 
the  sportsman  arms  himself  with  his  breech-loader, 
and  driving  to  Hackensack  or  taking  steamboat  from 


202  RAIL-SHOOTING. 

Philadelphia,  embarks  in  the  slight  skiff  usually 
called  a  "  rail-boat,"  and  practises  his  hand — possi- 
bly out  of  exercise  since  the  woodcock  days  of  early 
July — upon  the  tame  and  languid  rail. 

His  cartridges  are  prepared  for  the  occasion  ;  as 
he  does  not  intend  to  devote  more  than  a  day  or 
two  to  the  amusement,  he  takes  with  him  a  light 
suit,  appropriate  to  the  boat  and  the  weather,  gaiter 
shoes,  flannel  pants  and  shirt,  and  his  waterproof,  to 
meet  a  temporary  shower,  and  he  lays  in  sufficient 
liquid  for  himself  and  his  man,  knowing  that  salt  air 
produces  thirst  and  country  inns  bad  liquor.  Thus 
armed  and  equipped,  if  he  is  fortunate  enough  to 
have  high  tides,  he  is  almost  sure  to  enjoy  fine  sport, 
and  bring  home  a  bag  of  game  that  will  furnish  forth 
his  table  right  handsomely  to  a  goodly  company,  or 
go  far  and  spread  much  satisfaction  among  his  friends 
who  may  be  the  fortunate  recipients.  The  heats  of 
the  summer  solstice  are  over,  the  birds  will  keep 
several  days  with  care,  and  the  sportsman  has  not  to 
dread  either  the  burning  sun  of  August  or  the  freezing 
blasts  of  winter. 

Many  double  shots  present  themselves  in '  rail- 
shooting  ;  and  upon  the  manner  in  which  these  are 
turned  to  account,  and  the  brilliancy  with  which  a 
bird  that  rises  while  the  sportsman  is  in  the  act  of 
loading,  is  covered  with  the  hastily  charged  barrel 
and  cut  down,  depends  the  superiority  of  one  marks- 
man over  another.  In  the  days  of  the  muzzle-loader, 
I  have  killed  many  a  bird  with  one  barrel  while  the 
ramrod  was  still  in  the  other,  and  have  shot  several 


RAIL-SHOOTING.  203 

with  the  barrels  resting  on  ray  arm,  when  they  had 
slipped  from  my  hand  in  bringing  the  gun  up  hur- 
riedly to  my  shoulder.  Every  single  rise  should  be 
secured  as  matter-of-course,  and  most  of  the  double 
ones,  care  being  taken  in  the  latter  to  obey  that 
great  rule,  of  always  killing  the  more  difficult  shot 
first;  if  you  shoot  right-handed,  as  the  majority  of 
persons  do,  and  one  bird  flies  to  the  right  and  the 
other  to  the  left,  shoot  first  at  the  former,  and  you 
will  have  less  difficulty  in  bringing  back  the  gun 
towards  the  latter 

Never  relax  your  vigilance,  as  the  birds  rise 
silently,  without  the  warning  whistle  of  the  wood- 
cock or  whirr  of  the  quail,  at  the  least  expected 
moment ;  and  if  the  punter  attempts  to  direct  your 
attention,  the  chances  are  ten  to  one  that  you  look 
in  the  wrong  quarter. 

The  rail,  while  being  a  pleasant  bird  to  shoot,  is 
also  a  pleasant  bird  to  eat.  There  is  no  variety  of 
our  wild  game,  large  or  small,  that  is  more  delicious  ; 
its  flavor  is  excellent,  and  its  tenderness  beyond  com- 
parison ;  it  may  not  have  the  rich  full  flavor  of  that 
noblest  of  them  all,  the  big-eyed  woodcock,  nor  the 
savory  raciness  of  the  full-breasted  quail,  nor  the 
strong  game  taste  of  the  stylish  rufied  grouse,  nor 
the  unequalled  richness  of  the  kingly  canvas-back — 
but  in  tender,  melting  delicacy  it  is  hardly  surpassed. 
If  cooked  in  ,  perfection,  it  drops  to  pieces  in  the 
mouth,  leaving  only  a  delightful  residuum  of  enjoy- 
mentr.  It  should  be  floated  in  rosy  wine,  and  wash- 
ed down  with  the  ruby  claret,  and  accompanied  by 


204  BAIL- SHOOTING. 

fried  potatoes,  thin  and  crisp  as  a  new  bank  note. 
It  may  be  preceded  by  the  piece  de  resistance,  and 
should  be  followed  only  by  salad,  which  may  in  fact 
be  eaten  with  it,  if  dressed  with  sufficient  purity. 

Kill  your  rail  handsomely  in  the  field,  missing  not 
more  than  one  in  twenty,  present  him  properly  and 
with  due  appreciation  on  the  table,  and  eat  him  with 
the  gratitude  that  he  deserves. 


CHAPTER  VIH. 

WILD-FOWL   SHOOTIXG. 

IT  is  not  proposed  to  give  any  extended  account 
of  wild-fowl  shooting  as  practised  on  the  waters  of 
Long  Island,  or  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  great 
Northern  cities;  the  unsportsmanlike  modes  of 
proceeding  which  are  there  in  vogue,  and  which, 
while  contravening  all  true  ideas  of  sport,  insult  com- 
mon Sense  by  the  ruthless  injury  they  inflict,  have 
been  fully  set  forth  by  other  writers. 

In  stationing  a  battery — that  imitation  coffin, 
which  should  be  a  veritable  one,  if  justice  had  its 
way,  to  every  man  who  enters  it — and  in  lying  prone 
in  it  through  the  cold  days  of  winter,  the  market- 
man  may  find  his  pecuniary  profit,  but  the  gentleman 
can  receive  no  pleasure  ;  while  the  permanent  injury 
inflicted  by  driving  away  the  ducks  from  their  feed- 
ing-grounds, and  making  them  timorous  of  stop- 
ping at  all  in  waters  from  any  and  all  portions  of 
which  unseen  foes  may  arise,  is  ten  times  as  great 
as  the  temporary  advantage  gained ;  and  as  for  calling 
that  sport,  which  is  merely  the  wearisome  endur- 
ance of  cold  and  tedium  to  obtain  game  that  might  be 
killed  more  handsomely,  and  in  the  long  run  more 
abundantly,  by  other  methods,  is  an  entire  misappli 
cation  of  the  word. 


206  WILD-FOWL  SHOOTING. 

So  long  as  the  shooter  confines  himself  to  points 
of  land  or  sedge,  whether  he  uses  decoys  or  awaits 
the  accidental  passage  of  the  birds,  he  not  only  per- 
mits himself  a  change  of  position  and  sufficient  motion 
to  keep  his  blood  in  circulation,  but  he  allows  the 
frightened  flocks  that  have  already  lost  several  of 
their  number  in  running  the  gauntlet,  a  secure 
retreat  in  the  open  waters,  and  undisturbed  rest  at 
meal  time.  And  so  long  as  this  is  granted  them  they 
will  tarry,  and  trust  to  their  sharp  eyes  and  quick 
ears  to  save  their  lives ;  but  when  they  cannot  feed 
in  peace,  and,  when  they  can  find  no  haven  of  safety 
in  the  broad  expanse  of  water,  they  will  inevitably 
continue  their  migration,  and  seek  more  hospitable 
quarters. 

Wild-fowl  shooting,  as  pursued  at  the  West,  or 
even  at  the  South,  is  glorious  and  exhilarating ; 
there  the  sportsman  has  exercise,  or  the  assistance 
of  his  faithful  and  intelligent  retriever,  and  is  re- 
quired to  bring  into  play  the  higher  powers  of  his 
nature.  He  manages  his  own  boat,  or  he  stands 
securely  upon  the  firm  ground,  and  if  he  has  not  a 
canine  companion,  chases  his  crippled  birds  and  re- 
trieves the  dead  ones  by  his  own  unaided  efforts. 

At  the  West,  although  the  vast  numbers  do  not 
collect  that  congregate  in  the  Chesapeake  Bay  and 
Currituck  Inlet,  there  is  an  independence  in  the 
mode  of  pursuit  that  has  a  peculiar  charm ;  and  from 
the  facilities  afforded  by  the  nature  of  the  ground, 
the  excellent  cover  furnished  by  the  high  reeds,  and 
the  immense  number  of  single  shots,  the  average 


WILD-FOWL  SHOOTING.  207 

success  is  as  great  as  in  the  more  open  waters  of  the 
Southern  coast. 

The  employment  of  retrievers  is  not  general  in 
our  country,  which  is,  by  the  character  of  its  marshes 
nnd  growth  of  plants,  better  suited  for  the  full  dis- 
play of  their  capacities  than  any  other.  There  are 
certain  objections  to  the  use  of  a  dog  in  wild-fowl 
shooting,  which,  although  entirely  overbalanced  in 
the  writer's  opinion  by  the  corresponding  advan- 
tages, are  unquestionably  serious.  The  season  for 
duck-shooting  is  mainly  late  and  cold,  when  it  is 
essential  to  the  shooter's  comfort  that  his  boat 
should  be  dry ;  but  the  dog,  with  every  retrieved 
bird,  comes  back  dripping  with  wet,  and  if  he 
does  not  let  it  drain  into  the  bottom  of  the  skiff, 
where  it  "  swashes"  about  over  clothes  and  boots, 
shakes  himself  in  a  way  to  deluge  with  a  mimic 
cataract  every  person  and  thing  within  yards  of 
him. 

It  is  unreasonable  to  ask  of  the  intelligent  and 
devoted  but  shivering  creature,  that  he  should  re- 
main standing  in  the  freezing  water  or  upon  the 
damp  sedge ;  and  if  the  master  is  as  little  of  a  brute 
as  his  companion,  and  has  a  spare  coat,  the  dog  will 
have  it  for  a  bed,  regardless  of  the  consequences. 

Nor  is  this  the  only  difficulty ;  for  unless  the 
animal  has  instinctive  judgment  as  well  as  careful 
training,  he  may  in  open  water  upset  the  frail  skiff, 
by  either  jumping  out  of  it,  or  clambering  into  it 
injudiciously.  A  thoughtful  creature  maybe  taught 
to  make  his  entry  and  exit  over  the  stern,  but  un- 


208  WILD-FOWL   SHOOTING. 

fortunately,  some  of  the  most  enthusiastic  and  ser- 
viceable dogs  have  little  discretion  or  forethought; 
and  unless  lie  is  trained  to  perfect  quiet,  and  broken 
to  eitire  immobility  at  the  most  exciting  moments, 
he  in  apt  to  interfere  sadly  with  the  sport. 

In  spite  of  these  inconveniences,  however,  the  loss 
of  many  of  his  birds — amounting,  amid  the  dense 
reeds  of  the  western  lakes,  to  nearly  one-half  of  the 
whole  number — will  satisfy  the  sportsman  that  the 
retriever,  with  his  devoted  and  wonderful  sagacity, 
to  say  nothing  of  his  delightful  companionship,  is  a 
most  desirable  acquisition.  Where  the  sportsman 
is  forced  to  pursue  his  calling  solitary  and  alone,  so 
far  as  human  associates  are  concerned,  he  will  find 
the  presence  of  his  four-footed  friend  a  great  satis- 
faction, and,  amid  the  solitary  and  unemployed  mid- 
day hours,  a  pleasant  resource. 

The  dog  is  the  natural  companion  of  the  sports- 
man— the  partaker  of  his  pleasures,  the  coadjutor  of 
his  triumphs ;  and  whenever  his  peculiar  gifts  can 
be  used  to  advantage,  it  is  a  gratification  to  both  to 
call  upon  him.  The  knowledge  that  he  will  acquire 
in  time  is  truly  marvellous.  Not  only  does  he  pos- 
sess the  power  of  smell,  but  his  eyesight  and  hear- 
ing far  surpass  those  of  man ;  he  will  often  discern 
a  flock  long  before  it  is  visible  to  human  eyes,  and 
his  motions  will  warn  his  master  of  its  approach. 

His  training  can  be  carried  on  beyond  limit ;  his 
knowledge  increases  daily,  and  his  devotion  is  un- 
bounded. Of  all  the  "race,  the  retriever  is  probably 
the  most  intelligent ;  as,  in  fact,  intelligence  is  one 


WILD-FOWL  SHOOTING.  209 

of 'his  necessary  qualifications.  For  this  work  no 
breed  has  the  slightest  value  unless  the  individuals 
possess  rare  sagacity  and  almost  human  judgment. 
Some  of  the  most  valuable  English  dogs  have  been 
from  an  accidental  cross ;  and  a  pure  cur  with  a  heavy 
coat  is  often  as  good  as  any  other. 

There  is  in  England  a  strain  of  dogs  known  as 
retrievers ;  they  are  mostly  used  in  connexion  with 
upland  shooting,  as  English  pointers  and  setters  are 
not  broken  to  fetch  ;  but  the  favorite  animals  for 
wild-fowl  shooting,  which  have  made  their  name 
notorious  in  connexion  with  this  specialty,  have 
generally  come  from  parents  neither  of  which  pos- 
sesses the  true  retriever  blood. 

In  this  country  the  best  breed  will  have  some  of 
the  Newfoundland  strain ;  the  animal  must  be 
clothed  with  a  dense  coat  of  thick  hair  to  endure 
the  severe  exposure  to  which  he  is  subjected,  and 
must  be  endowed  with  a  natural  aptitude  and  pas- 
sion for  swimming.  The  usual  color  is  dark,  which, 
in  the  writer's  judgment,  is  a  great  mistake ;  and  the 
only  really  distinct  breed  of  retrievers  is  known  as 
that  of  Baltimore. 

In  the  Southern  States  the  dog,  as  an  assistant  in 
wild-fowl  shooting,  has  always  been  in  far  greater 
repute  than  at  the  North  ;  although  the  inland  lakes 
of  the  latter,  the  extensive  marshes  closely  grown 
up  with  tall  zimosas,  matted  wild  oats,  and  thick 
weeds,  make  his  services  far  more  desirable.  At 
the  South  alone  has  any  intelligent  attention  been 
given  to  raising  a  superior  strain  of  retrievers ;  and 


210  WILD-FOWL  SHOOTING. 

whether  we  seek  an  animal  that  by  his  curious 
motions  will  toll  ducks  up  to  the  stand,  or  by  his 
natural  intelligence  will  aid  the  punt-shooter  in 
recovering  his  game,  it  is  at  the  South  alone  that 
we  can  find  any  admitted  pedigree. 

In  the  Northern  States,  however,  the  "  native," 
as  he  is  called  at  the  West — probably  from  the  fact 
that  he  is  invariably  a  foreigner — selects  any  pro- 
mising pup,  and  by  means  of  much  flogging  and 
steady  work  trains  him  to  a  faint  knowledge  of  his 
duties.  A  young  dog  loves  to  fetch,  and  will  take 
pleasure  in  chasing  a  ball  thrown  for  him  round  the 
room,  and  if  he  is  a  water-dog,  naturally  brings  from 
the  water  a  stick  cast  into  it,  so  that  the  routine  part 
is  easily  impressed  upon  him ;  but  an  animal  with 
this  proficiency  alone  is  scarcely  worth  keeping. 

A  good  dog  must  have  intuitive  quickness  of 
thought  and  judgment ;  he  must  know  enough  to 
lie  perfectly  motionless  when  a  flock  is  approaching ; 
he  must  understand  how  to  retrieve  his  birds  judi- 
ciously, bringing  the  cripples  first ;  he  must  have 
perseverance,  endurance,  and  great  personal  vigor. 
A  duck  is  cunning,  and  to  outwit  its  many  artifices 
and  evasions  the  retriever  must  have  greater  shrewd- 
ness ;  it  can  skulk,  and  hide,  and  swim,  and  sneak, 
and  he  must  have  the  patience  to  follow  it,  and  the 
strength  to  capture  it.  Wonderful  stories  are  told  of 
the  many  exhibitions  of  what  seems  much  like  human 
reason,  evinced  by  some  of  the  celebrated  retrievers. 

But  probably  the  rarest  quality  for  a  dog  or  man 
to  possess,  and  the  mx>st  necessary  to  both,  if  they 


WILD-FOWL  SHOOTING.  211 

would  excel  in  field  sports,  is  the  power  of  self-re- 
straint. To  ask  an  animal,  trembling  all  over  with 
delirious  excitement,  to  lie  down  and  remain  per- 
fectly motionless  during  those  most  trying  moments 
when  the  ducks  are  approaching  and  being  killed, 
is  to  demand  of  him  a  self-control  greater  than 
would  be  often  found  in  his  master.  Yet  upon  this 
quality  in  the  dog  depends  the  entire  question  of 
his  value  or  worthlessness ;  if  he  makes  the  slightest 
motion,  the  quick  eyes  of  the  birds  are  sure  to  dis- 
cern it ;  and  if  he  bounces  up  at  the  first  discharge, 
he  Avill  certainly  destroy  his  master's  chance  of 
using  his  second  barrel,  and  perhaps  upset  him  over 
the  bide  of  the  boat. 

It  is  to  avoid  the  sharp  eyes  of  the  ducks  that  a 
black  color  for  the  dog  has  been  condemned.  Amid 
the  yellow  and  brown  reeds  of  the  marshes,  or  upon 
the  reflective  surface  of  the  open  water,  black,  from 
its  capacity  for  absorbing  the  rays  of  light,  is  visible 
at  an  immense  distance.  Yellow,  brown,  or  grey 
are  the  best  shades ;  and  any  color  is  preferable  to 
black.  Red  is  selected  by  the  Southerners  for  their 
tolling  dogs,  but  this  is  with  the  purpose  of  making 
them  attractive. 

Many  persons  conceive  that  a  dark  coat  is  warmer 
for  an  animal  than  white,  an  idea  that  is  carried  into 
practice  in  the  ordinary  winter  dress  of  human  be- 
ings ;  but  it  is  refuted  not  only  by  the  simplest  prin- 
ciples of  science,  but  by  the  natural  covering  of  the 
animals  that  inhabit  the  cold  climes  of  the  north.  The 
polar  bear  is  clothed  in  white,  while  the  southern  bear 


212  WILD-FOWL   SHOOTING. 

is  of  a  deep  black ;  and  many  of  the  animals  and  some 
birds  that  pass  the  winter  in  the  arctic  regions,  change 
their  dress  in  winter  from  dark  to  grey  or  pure  white. 

Undoubtedly  with  a  retriever  the  first  point  is  to 
consider  his  protection  against  cold ;  plunging  as  he 
does  at  short  intervals  into  water  at  a  low  tempera- 
ture, and  exposed  when  emerging  to  the  still  colder 
blasts  of  JEolus,  he  must  be  rendered  comfortable 
as  far  as  possible  at  the  sacrifice  of  every  other  con- 
sideration. This  is  attained  by  the  thickness  more 
than  the  color  of  his  coat ;  and  the  writer  has  al- 
ways fancied,  whether  correctly  or  not,  that  curly 
hair  is  warmer  than  straight  hair. 

The  matted  coat  of  the  Newfoundland  dogs — the 
smaller  breed  being  preferable  by  reason  of  size — is 
extremely  warm,  and  where  its  color  is  modified  by 
judicious  crossing,  is  all  that  can  be  desired  ;  while 
the  instinctive  intelligence,  the  devotion,  faithful- 
ness, docility,  and  interest  in  the  sport,  of  these 
admirable  animals,  fit  them  in  an  extraordinary 
degree  for  wild-fowl  shooting.  Coming  from  the 
north  and  accustomed  to  playing  in  the  water,  they 
can,  without  danger,  face  the  element  in  its  coldest 
state  ;  and  whether  it  be  to  chase  a  stick  thrown  into 
the  waves  by  their  youthful  human  playmates,  or 
to  recover  ducks  shot  by  their  sporting  owner,  they 
take  naturally  to  all  aquatic  amusements. 

Nevertheless,  as  has  been  heretofore  remarked, 
although  it  is  well  to  have  a  slight  strain  of  the  New- 
foundland, no  distinct  breed  is  necessary  to  make  a 
good  retriever.  Our  ordinary  setters  are  sometimes 


WILD-FOWL  SHOOTING.  213 

unsurpassable  for  the  purpose ;  and  any  tractable 
dog,  if  well  trained,  will  answer  in  a  measure. 

How  different  it  is  to  stand  in  the  narrow  skiff 
among  the  tall  reeds  at  early  dawn,  with  the  eager 
and  expectant,  though  humble,  associate,  crouched 
in  the  bottom  upon  his  especial  mat,  and  there  in 
the  increasing  light  that  paints  the  east  with  many 
changing  hues,  to  single  out  the  best  chances  from 
the  passing  flocks,  and  have  your  skill  doubly  en- 
hanced by  the  intelligent  cooperation  of  your  com- 
panion ;  than  to  lie,  cramped,  cold,  and  suffering,  all 
through  the  weary  hours,  stretched  at  full  length 
upon  your  back  with  eyes  staring  up  to  Heaven  and 
straining  to  catch  a  glimpse  of  the  horizon  over 
your  beard  or  forehead ;  and  occasionally  to  rise  to 
an  equally  constrained  posture  that  is  neither  sitting 
nor  lying,  and  do  your  best  to  discharge  your  gun 
with  some  judgment  at  a  passing  flock  of  fowl! 
Who  can  hesitate  in  selecting  the  mode  in  which  he 
will  pursue  the  sport  of  wild-fowl  shooting?  Most 
of  the  favorite  varieties  of  ducks,  including  many 
that  are  known  among  ornithologists  as  sea-ducks, 
fuligulce,  are  found  in  the  many  scattered  ponds, 
the  shallow  marshes,  or  the  extensive  inland  seas 
of  the  great  west ;  while  the  swans  and  geese  are 
shot,  the  former  along  the  larger  rivers  and  lakes, 
and  the  latter  in  the  corn-fields.  It  is  true  that  the 
enormous  flocks  that  collect  in  the  lagoons  and  bays 
of  the  South  are  rarely  seen ;  but  the  flight  of  small 
bodies  or  single  birds  is  more  continuous,  and  pro- 
bably the  total  number  even  larger. 


214  WILD-FOWL  SHOOTING. 

It  is  impossible  to  particularize  localities  as  pre- 
eminent for  this  sport  where  so  many  are  good ; 
and  the  innumerable  streams,  lakelets,  drowned 
lands,  swamps,  rivers,  lakes,  cultivated  fields,  and 
even  open  prairies  of  Ohio,  Illinois,  Indiana,  Michi- 
gan, and  the  Western  States  generally,  abound  in 
their  seasons  with  various  descriptions  of  wild-fowl; 
and  for  a  statement  of  the  mode  of  their  pursuit, 
and  the  views  of  their  pursuers,  no  better  course 
can  be  taken  than  to  give  an  account  of  a  few  days 
in  one  of  the  numerous  tributary  bays  of  Lake  Erie. 

Although  the  use  of  a  light  skiff  is  always  desirable 
and  adds  enormously  to  the  comfort  of  the  shooter, 
circumstances  will  often  arise  that  will  deprive  him 
of  its  use ;  and  in  such  case  he  has  no  better  re- 
source than  to  don  his  long  wading  boots,  and  tramp 
through  the  shallow  water  until  he  comes  to  a  favor- 
able spot,  perhaps  the  deserted  house  of  a  family 
of  beavers ;  and  there,  perched  upon  its  summit  and 
concealed  by  the  surrounding  reeds,  to  resign  him- 
self to  the  inevitable  inconveniences  of  his  position. 
When  his  feet  grow  cold  in  spite  of  their  india- 
rubber  casing,  and  his  muscles  weary  for  want  of 
rest,  he  will  long  for  the  dry  skiff;  and  when  he 
comes  to  "  back  "  his  load  of  game — consisting,  if 
he  is  successful,  of  geese,  canvas-backs,  red-heads, 
mallards,  blue-bills,  widgeons,  and  perhaps  a  swan — 
across  the  muddy  flats  a  mile  or  two  to  dry  laud,  he 
will  long  for  it  still  more  intensely. 

For  shooting  ducks  the  best  weather  is  dark,  or 
even  rainy,  as  at  such  times  the  birds  fly  closer  to 


WILD-FOWL  SHOOTING.  215 

the  earth,  being  unable  to  follow  their  course,  and 
do  not  perceive  the  sportsman  so  readily.  But  as  a 
natural  consequence,  the  sportsman's  ammunition 
becomes  damp  and  his  clothes  wet,  while  the  old- 
fogy  owner  of  the  muzzle-loader  will  unjustly  anathe- 
matize Eley's  water-proof  caps  when  his  gun  misses 
fire,  instead  of  blaming  his  own  stupidity.  The  in- 
sides  of  barrels  will  foul  and  the  outsides  rust ;  the 
loading-stick  will  become  dirty  and  the  sportsman's 
hands  and  face  grimy ;  and  then  the  happy  possessor 
of  the  breech-loader,  when  he  handles  his  clean  car- 
tridges, although  one  occasionally  may  •  stick,  will 
thank  his  good  fortune  and  bless  Lefaucheaux. 

A  strong  wind  forces  the  birds  out  of  their  safe 
course,  up  and  down  the  open  "leads,"  upon  the 
various  points  where  the  fowler,  selecting  the  most 
favorable  by  watching  the  flight,  takes  his  stand; 
and,  when  they  are  heading  against  it,  reduces  their 
speed  from  the  lightning  rate  of  ninety  miles  an 
hour  to  reasonable  deliberation  ;  but  when  they  are 
travelling  with  it,  renders  the  art  of  killing  them 
one  of  no  easy  acquisition. 

In  shooting  wild-fowl,  or  in  fact  any  rapid  flying 
birds,  it  is  necessary  to  aim  ahead  of  them — not 
that  the. gun  is  actually  fired  ahead  of  them,  but  to 
allow  for  the  time,  hardly  perceptible  to  man,  but 
noticeable  in  the  changed  position  of  the  birds,  ne- 
cessary to  discharge  the  piece;  and  the  distance 
allowed  must  depend  not  only  on  the  rapidity  of 
their  flight,  but  on  the  customary  quickness  of  the 
marksman.  The  great  fault  of  sportsmen  is,  that 


216  WILD-FOWL  SHOOTING. 

they  shoot  below  and  behind  their  birds ;  and  this  is 
particularly  apt  to  be  the  case  where  the  game,  as 
with  wild-fowl,  appears  to  move  more  slowly  than  it 
really  does. 

To  the  novice  in  this  peculiar  sport,  the  second 
difficulty  to  overcome  will  be  the  inability  to  judge 
distances.  Not  only  do  objects  appear  over  the 
water  nearer  than  they  really  are,  but  there  is  no 
neighboring  object  that  will  aid  the  judgment  in 
coming  to  a  correct  conclusion ;  and  by  changes 
in  the  weather  birds  in  the  air  will  seem  to  be 
nearer  or  further  off,  and  their  plumage  will  be 
more  or  less  distinctly  visible,  according  to  circum- 
stances. After  several  days'  experience  in  dark, 
cloudy  weather,  the  greatest  proficient  will,  on  the 
first  ensuing  day  of  bright  sunshine,  throw  away 
many  useless  shots  at  impracticable  distances. 

There  is  no  criterion  to  determine  the  distance 
of  any  bird  high  above  the  horizon,  and  any  recom- 
mendation to  wait  till  the  eyes  can  be  seen — the 
book-maker's  rule1 — is  worse  than  useless;  it  is  a 
matter  of  experience  and  judgment. 

There  is  no  better  time  to  kill  ducks  than  when 
they  are  coming  head  on,  the  commonly  promulgated 
idea  that  their  feathers  will  turn  the  heavy  shot 
being  simply  absurd ;  and  all  the  marksman  has  to 
do  is  to  cover  his  bird,  pitch  his  gun  a  trifle  up- 
wards, and  pull  the  trigger. 

In  the  matter  of  ammunition,  the  high  numbers 
of  shot  and  the  light  charges  of  powder  of  old 
times  have  changed  by  general  consent;  and  for 


WILD-FOWL  SHOOTING.  217 

ducks,  one  ounce  and  a  quarter  of  No.  4  or  5,  and 
perhaps  No.  3  late  in  the  season,  and  of  No.  1  or  2 
for  geese,  driven  out  of  the  ordinary  field-gun  by 
three  and  a  half  drachms  of  powder,  will  be  found 
preferable.  I  say  a  field-gun,  because,  although  the 
heavy  duck-gun,  with  its  enormous  charge  of  six 
drachms  of  powder  and  three  ounces  of  shot,  is 
undoubtedly  more  killing  when  discharged  into 
large  flocks,  the  waste  of  ammunition  would  be 
immense  were  it  used  at  the  scattering  flight  of 
the  western  country. 

Many  kinds  of  wild-fowl  will,  like  bay-snipe,  be 
attracted  by  an  imitation  of  their  cry ;  and,  when 
decoys  are  used,  the  mastery  of  these  calls  is  neces- 
sary to  the  proficiency  of  the  bayman.  But  at  the 
West,  where  the  use  of  decoys  is  not  customary, 
and  where  the  nature  of  the  ground  prevents  full 
advantage  being  obtained  from  these  devices,  a 
knowledge  of  the  art  is  not  so  necessary.  Never- 
theless, there  is  something  thrilling  in  the  "  honk  " 
of  the  wild  goose ;  when  it  is  heard,  the  sportsman 
is  earnest  in  his  efforts  to  imitate  it,  and  if  suc- 
cessful— which  he  often  is,  for  the  bird  responds 
readily — is  not  only  proud  of  the  result,  but  amply 
rewarded  for  his  skill. 

In  shooting  from  any  species  of  cover,  when  ducks 
are  approaching,  it  is  more  important  not  to  move 
than  to  be  well  hid;  the  slightest  motion  startles 
and  alarms  the  birds,  that  would  possibly  have  ap- 
proached the  sportsman  in  full  view  if  he  had  re- 
mained motionless.  If  they  are  suddenly  perceived 
10 


218  WILD-FOWL  SHOOTING. 

near  at  hand  while  the  sportsman  is  standing  erect, 
let  him  remain  so  without  stirring  a  muscle,  and  not 
attempt  to  dodge  down  into  the  blind.  The  ducks 
may  not  notice  him — especially  if  his  dress  is  of  a 
suitable  color — among  the  reeds,  but  will  inevitably 
catch  sight  of  the  least  movement. 

So  much  for  general  suggestions  and  advice,  which 
will  be  regarded  or  disregarded  by  the  gentlemen 
for  whom  this  work  is  written,  much  according  to 
their  previously  conceived  ideas  ;  and  which  may  or 
may  not  be  correct  according  to  the  opportunities 
of  judging,  and  the  skill  of  turning  them  to  account, 
of  the  writer ;  and  now  we  will  record  a  few  per- 
sonal experiences,  in  the  hope,  if  not  of  further  eluci- 
dating and  supporting  the  views  herein  expressed, 
of  furnishing  the  reader  with  more  interesting  mat- 
ter. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

DUCK-SHOOTING   ON  THE   INLAND   LAKES. 

Our  West — 'way  out  West — a  long  distance  from 
our  eastern  cities  in  miles,  but  now,  thanks  to  steam 
and  iron,  a  short  one  in  hours,  upon  an  island  lying 
in  a  bay  that  debouches  into  one  of  the  great  chain 
of  lakes,  is  situated  a  large,  neat,  white-painted  and 
comfortable  house,  where  a  club  of  sportsmen  meet 
to  celebrate  the  advent  and  presence  of  the  wild 
ducks.  The  mansion — for  it  deserves  that  name 
from  its  extent  and  many  conveniences — peeps  out 
from  amid  the  elms  and  hickories  that  cover  the 
point  upon  which  it  stands,  almost  concealed  in 
summer  by  their  foliage,  but  in  winter  protected,  as 
it  were,  by  their  bare,  gaunt  limbs.  From  the 
piazza  that  extends  along  the  front  a  plank  pathway 
leads  to  the  wharf,  which  shelves  into  the  water, 
like  the  levees  on  the  Mississippi,  and  down  or  up 
which  each  sportsman  can,  unaided,  run  his  light 
boat  at  his  own  sweet  will.  Adjoining  the  wharf  is 
the  out-house,  where  the  boats  are  stored  in  tiers, 
one  above  another,  and  are  protected  summer  and 
winter  from  the  weather.  Not  far  off  stands  that 
most  important  building,  a  commodious  ice-house, 
suggestive  of  the  luxuries  and  comforts  that  a  better 
acquaintance  with  the  ways  of  the  place  will  realize. 


220        f  DUCK-SHOOTING. 

The  island  is  not  large,  but  wherever  it  is  tillable, 
a  garden,  orchard,  and  grapery  have  been  planted, 
and  furnish  the  household  with  delicious  fruit  and 
vegetables.  Quail  have  been  introduced,  and,  being 
protected  by  the  regulations  of  the  establishment, 
have  increased  and  multiplied ;  and  wild  turkeys 
occasionally  commit  upon  the  vines  depredations 
which  are  condignly  punished.  It  is  a  lovely  spot, 
far  from  other  habitations,  and  affords  shelter  during 
the  fall  months  to  as  pleasant  a  set  of  sportsmen  as 
can  be  found  the  world  over. 

The  President,  with  his  short  figure  and  grey  hair, 
but  sharp,  clear  eye,  was  selected  for  his  superior 
success  as  a  marksman,  and  rarely  returns  from  a 
day's  excursion  without  a  boat-load  of  ganfe.  The 
Vice-President  and  Secretary  are  the  only  other 
officers,  and  upon  their  fiat  it  depends  whether  any 
outsider  shall  trespass  upon  their  inland  Paradise. 
Promiscuous  invitations  were  once  extended  to  the 
brethren  of  the  gun  and  rod,  but  so  many  spurious 
counterfeits  presented  themselves,  that  a  stringent 
rule  had  to  be  adopted  to  exclude  all  but  the  genuine 
article. 

The  shooting  lasts  from  the  1st  of  September  till 
the  chill  breath  of  winter  closes  the  bay  and  drives 
the  birds  to  more  hospitable  localities.  It  is  pursued 
in  a  small,  light,  flat-bottomed  boat,  similar,  on  a 
larger  pattern,  to  the  rail-boats  used  on  the  Dela- 
ware. Each  boat  is  provided  with  a  pair  of  oars 
working  on  pins  that  fit  into  outriggers ;  and  also 
with  a  long  setting-pole,  which  has  a  bent  wire,  like 


DUCK-SHOOTING.  221 

a  tiny  two-pronged  pitchfork,  on  the  end,  to  catch 
against  the  reeds  in  poling.  A  place  is  made  to  rest 
the  gun  on  upon  one  of  the  thwarts ;  an  ammunition- 
box,  containing  separate  compartments  for  shot  of 
several  sizes,  wads,  and  caps,  is  stowed  away  in  the 
bottom,  and  a  heavy  loading-stick,  in  addition  to 
the  ramrod,  is  carried.  Two  guns  are  an  absolute 
necessity,  unless  the  sportsman  has  a  breech-loader ; 
for  many  birds  are  crippled  and  require  a  second 
shpt  before  they  escape  into  the  thick  weeds,  where 
they  are  hopelessly  lost;  and  when  the  flight  is 
rapid,  he  requires,  at  least,  four  barrels,  and  would 
be  thankful  if  he  could  manage  more. 

The  bay,  which  stretches  in  vast  extent,  is  filled 
with  high  reeds  and  wild  rice,  and  rarely  exceeds 
a  few  feet  in  depth  except  where  open  passages 
mark  the  deeper  channels.  It  is  a  matter  of  no  lit- 
tle intricacy  for  a  stranger  to  find  his  way,  and 
after  nightfall  the  oldest  habitue  will  often  become 
bewildered,  as  the  various  bunches  of  weeds, 
tufts  of  rice,  or  stretches  of  pond  lilies  look  alike, 
and  when  a  southerly  wind  is  blowing  the  water 
falls  and  leaves  all  but  the  deep  channels  nearly  or 
quite  bare.  If  a  man  under  such  circumstances  once 
loses  his  course  he  may  as  well  make  up  his  mind  to 
pass  the  night  in  his  boat ;  though  he  work  himself 
almost  to  death  trying  to  pole  over  bare  spots,  he 
will  but  travel  in  a  circle  and  grow  momentarily 
more  bewildered. 

I  landed  at  the  wharf  in  the  middle  of  October, 
of  a  year  ever  famous  for  the  immense  numbers  of 


222  DUCK-SHOOTING. 

birds  that  were  killed  during  it,  and  met  with  a 
hearty  greeting  from  a  goodly  company  collected 
round  the  groaning  board  of  mine  host  of  the  white- 
flowing  locks.  There  was  our  worthy  President, 
and  our  Secretary  and  Treasurer  gracefully  combined 
in  one ;  there  our  lucky  man  and  the  unlucky  man, 
and  there  a  famous  black-bass  fisherman,  and  there 
ray  special  friend,  and  others  of  lesser  note. 

We  sat  down  to  tea  with  roasted  canvas-backs  at 
one  end  of  the  table,  broiled  steaks  at  the  other, 
and  beautiful  potatoes  flanking  each  that  had  been 
raised  on  our  own  premises  and  were  tumbling  to 
white  particles,  as  though  they  were  trying  to  be 
flour ;  jolly,  round,  baked  apples  sitting  complacent- 
ly in  their  own  juice,  vegetables  of  all  sorts,  grapes 
from  our  grapery,  and  so  many  other  inward  com- 
forts that  one  hardly  knew  where  to  begin  and  never 
knew  where  to  leave  off.  Our  comely  hostess,  who 
had  prepared  these  good  things,  poured  out  the  tea 
for  us,  and  put  in  sly  remarks  to  her  favorites  ;  and, 
altogether,  it  was  truly  pleasant. 

After  tea  and  adjournment  to  the  sitting-room, 
while  enjoying  the  practical  cigar  or  comfortable 
pipe,  we  discussed  the  varied  fortunes  of  the  day 
and  the  probabilities  of  the  morrow ;  compared 
views  on  the  habits  of  fish,  flesh,  or  fowl,  and  related 
experiences  of  former  expeditions.  But  eager  for 
the  morning  sun,  we  retired  early  and  dreamed  of 
victory. 

As  soon  as  the  lazy  dawn  streaked  the  east,  dress- 
ing being  done  by  candle-light,  we  hastily  disposed 


DUCK-SHOOTING.  223 

of  our  breakfast  and  prepared  for  the  start.  Hav- 
ing selected  our  boats  and  arranged  them  on  the 
wharf,  we  stowed  our  guns,  ammunition-boxes,  over- 
clothes,  a  few  decoys,  and  such  other  articles  as  fancy 
suggested ;  and  then  taking  two  little  tin  pails,  we 
put  a  nice  lunch  of  cold  duck,  steak,  bread,  pickles, 
cake,  and  fruit  in  one,  and  into  the  other  water  with 
a  large  lump  of  ice  bobbing  around  in  the  centre ; 
and  thus  equipped,  each  man  slid  his  boat  down  the 
inclined  wharf,  and  shipping  his  oars,  pulled  for  his 
favorite  location. 

My  friend  and  myself  joined  forces,  and  made  our 
first  pause  at  a  little  bunch  of  wild  rice  not  far  from 
the  house,  called  Fort  Ossawatomie.  Decoys  are 
not  generally  used  in  this  region,  as  they  cannot  be 
seen  from  any  considerable  distance  by  the  birds  on 
account  of  the  reeds ;  but  my  friend  had  left  his  at 
this  place  over  night,  and  they  were  still  "  bobbing 
around" — pretending  to  swim  and  looking  deceit- 
fully innocent — when  we  ensconced  ourselves  among 
the  reeds  near  by,  crowding  down  into  the  bottom 
of  our  boats  well  out  of  view. 

Several  flocks  were  seen  hovering  over  the  hori- 
zon, or  moving  along  in  the  distance,  scarcely  discer- 
nible against  the  morning  clouds  ;  and  although  occa- 
sionally they  bade  fair  to  approach,  our  hopes  were 
destined  to  disappointment,  till  a  single  bird  turned 
and  headed  directly  towards  us.  When  a  bird  is 
approaching  head  on,  it  is  almost  impossible  to  tell 
whether  he  is  not  going  directly  from  you ;  and  at 
times,  except  for  his  growing  plainer  every  moment, 


224  DUCK  SHOOTING. 

we  should  have  doubted  which  way  this  bird  was 
flying.  Once  he  turned,  from  a  change  of  fancy  or 
fearing  danger,  but  perceiving  some  other  cause  of 
alarm  he  again  straightened  his  course  towards  us. 

We  were  bent  down,  peering  eagerly  through  the 
high  reeds,  as  at  last  he  came  by,  within  a  long  gun- 
shot, on  the  side  of  my  companion.  The  latter,  ris- 
ing at  the  exact  moment,  wheeled  round,  brought 
up  his  gun,  and  fired  in  an  instant.  It  was  just  with- 
in range,  but  the  bird  turned  over,  killed  dead,  and 
fell  with  a  great  splash  into  the  water,  sending  the 
spray  six  feet  into  the  air.  Seizing  the  pole,  I  pushed 
out  to  him,  and  found  that  he  was  a  blue-bill,  one 
of  the  best  birds  of  the  Western  waters,  and  at  this 
time  in  perfection. 

We  again  concealed  ourselves  ;  but  noticing  that 
the  birds  shunned  the  spot,  I  determined  to  leave  it, 
and  pushed  out  alone  to  one  of  the  principal  land- 
marks, where  the  landscape  presents  so  great  a  uni- 
formity— a  large  umbrella-like  elm  upon  the  distant 
shore.  I  did  not  follow  the  regular  channel ;  and 
at  first  the  way  was  a  difficult  one,  being  directly 
through  a  fringe  of  wild  rice,  where  the  water  was 
shallow  and  the  stalks  reached  high  above  my  head, 
but  beyond,  an  open  patch  of  water-lilies  stretched 
for  half  a  mile. 

The  broad,  smooth  leaves  of  this  remarkable 
plant,  far  larger  than  those  of  the  pond-lilies  of  the 
Eastern  States,  lay  in  numbers  upon,  or  half  buried 
in,  the  water ;  while  standing  up  a  few  feet  above 
its  surface  with  their  straight  stems,  and  gracefully 


DUCK-SHOOTING.  225 

waving  in  the  wind,  were  the  cup-like  pods  that 
contain  the  seeds. 

When  the  pods  first  form  the  seeds  are  entirely 
hidden  from  view,  but  as  they  increase  in  size,  holes 
form  in  the  covering,  through  which  they  peep  as 
through  a  window.  The  seeds  and  pod  are  originally 
green,  but  darken  and  turn  blue,  and  then  brown, 
as  the  season  advances ;  and  the  holes,  which  begin 
by  being  small,  become  larger  till  they  open  suffi- 
ciently for  the  seeds  to  fall  out.  The  seeds  or  ber- 
ries are  elliptical  in  shape  and  of  almost  the  size  of 
a  chestnut ;  in  the  green  state  they  are  soft,  and  can 
be  readily  cut  with  a  knife ;  but  when  ripe  and  black, 
they  are  as  hard  as  stone,  and  will  turn  the  edge  of 
a  knife  like  agate. 

When  about  half  ripe,  or  bluish  in  color,  they  are 
good  to  eat,  and  after  the  removal  of  a  little  green 
sprout  hidden  in  the  centre,  are  sweet,  tasting  much 
the  same  as  a  chestnut.  As  they  ripen  and  their 
covering  recedes,  their  stems  hold  them  upright ; 
but  the  first  heavy  frost  breaks  down  the  stems,  and 
lets  the  seed  fall  out  into  the  water,  where,  they  lie 
till  next  year. 

The  working  of  nature  is  wonderful,  as  no  one 
observes  more  frequently  than  the  sportsman ;  all 
this  care  is  taken  to  preserve  the  seeds  for  their  ap- 
pointed work.  If  they  were  permitted  to  fall  out 
when  green  or  even  half  ripe,  the  action  of  the  water 
would  soften  and  destroy  them ;  extreme  hardness 
is  necessary  to  resist  its  action  for  so  long  a  time  ; 
while,  on  the  other  hand,  if  they  were  retained 
10* 


226  DUCK-SHOOTING. 

longer  and  exposed  to  excessive  cold,  their  germi- 
nating principle  would  be  annihilated. 

Wood-ducks  are  fond  of  them  in  their  unripe 
state,  and  frequent  the  marshes,  especially  in  the 
early  fall,  to  procure  a  supply.  With  a  view  to 
nuts  and  grapes  for  dessert,  I  paused  to  gather  a 
number  of  pods,  and  was  carelessly  pushing  along, 
when  from  out  a  bunch  of  weeds,  with  a  great  clat- 
ter, sprang  a  couple  of  those  birds.  Dropping  the 
setting-pole,  I  threw  myself  forward  to  seize  the 
gun  ;  but  for  this  shooting,  infinite  practice  and 
great  aptitude  are  required ;  and  although  well 
accustomed  to  kill  rail  from  the  floating  cockle- 
shells on  the  Delaware  river,  and  able  to  take  one 
end  of  a  birch  canoe  with  any  man,  I  was  bun- 
glingly  in  my  own  way,  and,  when  at  last  one 
barrel  was  discharged,  a  shameful  miss  was  the 
only  result.  Anathematizing  my  awkwardness,  I 
was  dropping  the  butt  to  reload,  when,  roused  by 
the  report,  another  bird  sprang  not  more  than 
twenty  yards  off.  In  an  instant  the  gun  was  at 
my  shoulder,  and,  when  the  fire  streamed  forth, 
the  bird  doubled  up,  riddled  with  shot,  and  pitched 
forward  into  the  weeds.  It  was  a  drake,  and,  al- 
though young,  the  plumage  was  resplendent  with 
the  green,  brown,  and  mottle  of  the  most  beau- 
tiful denizen  of  our  waters — the  elegant  wood- 
duck. 

Several  more  rose,  far  out  of  range,  before  the 
lilies  were  passed  and  my  destination  in  the  open 
channel  reached.  Stopping  on  the  brink  of  the  lat- 


DUCK-SHOOTING.  227 

ter,  to  watch  the  flight  of  the  birds,  I  noticed  that 
they  frequently  crossed  a  reedy  island  in  the  middle 
of  the  channel,  and  consequently  proceeded  to  con- 
ceal myself  in  what  among  our  association  is  called 
the  Little  Bunker.  It  was  an  admirable  location ; 
the  channel  on  each  side  did  not  exceed  one  hun- 
dred yards  in  width,  and  the  weather  having  be- 
come thick,  with  an  easterly  wind  blowing  and  a 
slight  rain  driving,  the  promise  of  sport  was  ex- 
cellent. 

Once  fairly  hidden,  and  my  work  commenced; 
bird  after  bird  and  flock  after  flock  approached, 
and  although  the  boat,  even  while  pressed  in 
among  and  steadied  by  the  stiff  reeds,  was  far 
from  firm,  a  goodly  number  was  soon  collected. 
How  much  more  exhilarating  is  this  noble  sport  as 
it  is  pursued  in  the  West  than  upon  our  Atlantic 
coast,  where,  stretched  upon  his  back  in  a  coffin-like 
battery,  the  sportsman  has  to  lie  for  hours  cooling 
his  heels  and  exhausting  his  patience !  There  he  is 
not  confined  to  one  position;  but,  after  shooting 
down  a  bird,  has  the  excitement  of  pushing  after  it, 
and,  if  it  is  only  wounded,  of  following  it,  perhaps 
in  a  long  chase  before  it  is  retrieved ;  and  then  he 
must  make  all  haste  to  return  to  the  hiding-place, 
over  which  the  birds  are  flying  finely  in  his  absence, 
and  thus  he  keeps  up  a  glow  and  fire  of  activity 
and  exercise. 

It  is  a  glorious  sight  to  see  a  noble  flock  of  ducks 
approach;  to  watch  them  with  trembling  alterna- 
tions of  fear  and  hope  as  they  waver  in  their  course, 


228  DUCK-SHOOTING. 

as  they  crowd  together  or  separate,  as  they  swing 
first  one  flank  of  their  array  forward,  then  the 
other ;  as  they  draw  nearer  and  nearer,  breathlessly 
to  wait  the  proper  time,  and,  with  quick  eye  and 
sure  aim,  select  a  pair,  or  perhaps  more,  with  each 
barrel.  It  is  still  more  glorious  to  see  them  fall — 
doubled  up  if  killed  dead,  turning  over  and  over 
if  shot  in  the  head,  and  slanting  down  if  only 
wounded,  driving  up  the  spray  in  mimic  fountains 
as  they  strike ;  and  glorious,  too,  the  chase  after 
the  wounded — with  straining  muscles  to  follow  his 
rapid  wake,  and,  when  he  dives,  catching  the  first 
glimpse  of  his  reappearance  to  plant  the  shot  from 
an  extra  gun  in  a  vital  spot.  Glorious  to  survey 
the  prizes,  glorious  to  think  over  and  relate  the  suc- 
cessful event,  and  glorious  to  listen  to  the  tales  of 
others. 

Sad,  however,  is  it  when  the  flock  turns  off  and 
pushes  far  out  to  the  open  water ;  sadder  still  when 
the  aim  is  not  true  and  the  bird  goes  by  uninjured ; 
sad  when  the  chase  is  unsuccessful  and  the  weeds 
hide  the  prey,  or  he  dives  to  grasp  a  root  and  never 
reappears ;  and  saddest  of  all  to  fall  overboard  out 
of  your  frail  bark — a  fate  that  sooner  or  later  awaits 
every  one  that  shoots  ducks  from  little  boats. 

I  had  had  all  these  experiences  except  the  last, 
and  almost  that — when  pushing  through  the  weeds, 
my  friend  appeared,  attracted  by  my  rapid  firing, 
and  after  comparing  our  respective  counts,  ensconc- 
ed himself  in  one  of  the  points  opposite  me  on  the 
channel.  By  this  plan  all  birds  that  came  between 


DUCK-SHOOTING.  229 

us  gave  one  or  the  other  a  shot,  and  each  could 
mark  birds  approaching  the  other  from  behind. 

The  morning  passed  rapidly  away  amid  splendid 
shooting,  and  noon  found  us  united  in  my  hiding- 
place  to  eat  a  sociable  meal  together.  During  the 
middle  of  the  day  the  birds  repose,  and  the  sportsman 
employs  the  time  in  satisfying  the  cravings  of  hun- 
ger or  even  in  a  nap,  interrupted  though  he  may  be 
in  either  by  an  occasional  whirr  of  wings,  that,  when 
it  is  too  late,  informs  him  of  lost  opportunities. 

We  talked  over  matters.  As  the  day  had  cleared 
off  and  become  warm,  the  prospect  of  sport  for 
some  hours  at  least  was  over,  and  my  friend  sug- 
gested we  should  visit  the  snipe  ground.  To  ap- 
prove the  suggestion,  to  push  out  and  to  ship  our 
oars,  was  the  work  of  a  moment,  and  we  were 
soon  at  Mud  Creek  bridge,  a  pull  of  about  two  miles 
through  an  open  lead,  from  which  the  ducks  were 
continuously  springing  on  our  approach.  Having 
anchored  our  boats  a  short  distance  from  shore,  to 
prevent  the  wild  hogs  paying  us  a  visit,  we  waded 
to  land,  and  substituting  small  shot  for  the  heavy 
charges  in  our  guns,  walked  a  few  yards  up  the  road 
and  crossed  the  fence. 

I  had  brought  my  setter  with  me,  and  he  had 
proved  himself  a  model  of  quietness  in  the  boat, 
from  the  bottom  of  which  he  had  raised  his  head 
only  once  all  day  ;  when  my  first  duck  dropped  he 
rose  on  his  haunches,  and  watching  where  it  fell, 
sniffed  at  it  as  I  pushed  up,  and  then,  satisfied  he 
had  no  part  in  such  sport,  lay  down  to  sleep. 


230  DUCK-SHOOTING. 

The  moment  he  touched  land  his  vigor  returned ; 
at  a  motion,  he  darted  out  into  the  meadow  of  alter- 
nating broad  slanks  and  high  field  grass  that  lay  be- 
fore us,  and  ere  he  had  traversed  fifty  yards,  as  he 
approached  an  open  spot,  hesitated,  drew  cautiously, 
and  finally  paused  on  a  firm  point.  Stepping  to  him 
as  fast  as  the  impressible  nature  of  the  ground  per- 
mitted, we  flushed  three  birds,  rising  as  they  are  apt 
to  do  one  after  the  other,  and  killed  two.  one  spring- 
ing wide  and  escaping  unshot  at. 

While  going  to  retrieve  the  dead  birds  we  flush- 
ed two  more,  both  of  which  were  bagged,  one  a 
long  shot,  wing-tipped,  and  not  recovered  till  some 
time  afterwards ;  for,  ere  we  reached  him,  we  had 
sprung  a  dozen,  most  of  which  were  duly  accounted 
for.  The  missed  birds,  after  circling  round  high  in 
the  air,  returned  to  the  neighborhood  of  their  origi- 
nal locality,  and  pitching  down  head-foremost,  con- 
cealed themselves  among  the  high  grass  near  enough 
to  lure  us  to  their  pursuit. 

The  walking  was  terribly  hard ;  the  clayey  mud 
uncommonly  tenacious;  the  day  was  already  well 
advanced,  and  splendid  as  was  the  sport,  we  resolv- 
ed, after  having  pretty  well  exhausted  ourselves  and 
bagged  twenty-six  birds,  that  we  must  hasten  back 
to  the  rice  swamp,  or  we  should  lose  the  evening's 
shooting. 

We  returned  to  our  boats,  and  stowing  the  game, 
pulled  with  the  utmost  vigor  down  the  channel  of 
Mud  Creek,  and  in  a  short  time  were  again  hidden 
among  the  high  reeds,  awaiting  the  ducks.  This 


DUCK-SHOOTING.  231 

time  my  friend  selected  a  spot  near  a  sort  of  semi- 
island,  that  was  submerged  or  not,  according  to  the 
state  of  the  water,  and  near  which  was  a  favorite 
roosting-place. 

The  sun  was  leisurely  dropping  down  the  west- 
ern sky,  throwing  his  slanting  rays  across  the  broad 
bay,  and  lighting  up  the  distant  club-house  as  by  a 
fire.  The  fringe  of  land,  trees,  and  bushes,  that 
shut  out  the  horizon  and  rose  but  little  above  the 
water  level,  was  growing  dim  and  hazy  of  outline. 
The  wind  had  died  away ;  and  stillness,  but  for  the 
quacking  of  the  ducks,  the  splashing  of  the  coots,  or 
so-called  mud-hens,  and  the  occasional  report  of  a 
gun,  reigned  supreme.  A  lethargy  seemed  to  have 
fallen  upon  the  birds ;  a  distant  flock  alone  would  at 
long  intervals  greet  our  eyes,  and  for  some  time  our 
evening's  sport  bade  fair  to  prove  a  failure. 

However,  as  the  sun  was  about  to  sink,  the  birds 
began  to  arrive,  at  first  one  or  two  at  a  time,  then 
more  rapidly  and  in  larger  flocks,  till  at  last  it  was 
one  steady  stream  and  whirr  of  wings.  Faster  than 
we  could  load,  faster  than  we  could  shoot,  or  could 
have  shot  had  \ve  had  fifty  guns,  from  all  quarters 
and  of  all  kinds  they  streamed  past ;  now  the  sharp 
whistle  of  the  teal,  then  the  rush  of  the  mallard, 
sometimes  high  over  our  heads,  at  others  darting 
close  beside  us ;  by  ones,  by  twos,  by  dozens,  by 
hundreds,  crowded  together  in  masses  or  stretched 
in  open  lines,  in  all  variety  of  ways,  but  in  one  un- 
interrupted flight. 

Such  shooting  rarely  blesses  the  fortunate  sports- 


232  DUCK-SHOOTING. 

man  ;  we  drove  down  our  charges  as  best  we  could, 
sometimes  having  one  barrel  loaded  or  half  loaded, 
sometimes  the  other,  oftener  neither,  when  we  were 
interrupted  with  such  glorious  chances ;  our  nerves, 
eyes,  and  muscles  were  on  the  strain,  and  to  this  day 
we  have  only  to  regret  that  we  did  not  then  pos- 
sess a  breech-loader. 

The  air  was  alive  with  birds ;  the  rustle  of  their 
wings  made  one  continuous  hum ;  the  heavy  flocks 
approached  and  passed  us  with  a  sound  like  the 
gusty  breeze  of  an  autumn  night  rattling  through 
the  dying  leaves.  When  the  sun  fled  and  darkness 
seemed  to  spring  up  around  us,  they  appeared  in 
the  most  unexpected  and  bewildering  manner ;  at 
one  time  from  out  of  the  glorious  brilliancy  of  the 
western  sky,  then  from  the  deep  gloom  of  the  op- 
posite quarter,  darting  across  us  or  plunging  down 
into  the  weeds  near  by. 

Our  birds  lay  where  they  fell,  and  when  the  ap- 
proaching night  bade  us  depart,  we  retrieved  sixty- 
seven — the  result  of  about  one  hour's  shooting — 
doubtless  losing  numbers  that  were  not  noticed,  or 
which,  being  wounded,  escaped.  Had  we  not  been 
awkward  from  a  year's  idleness,  or  had  we  shot  as 
the  professionals  of  Long  Island  and  each  used  a 
breech-loader,  I  could  hardly  say  how  many  we 
might  not  have  killed.  As  it  was,  the  sport  was  won- 
derful, and  the  result  sufficient  to  satisfy  our  am- 
bition. 

We  lost  no  time  in  escaping  from  the  weeds  into 
the  channel-ways,  whither  the  open-water  ducks — 


DUCK-SHOOTING.  233 

the  red-heads  and  canvas-backs — had  preceded  us, 
and  were  still  directing  their  flight;  and  then 
started  for  the  few  dim  trees  that  we  knew  sur- 
rounded the  club-house,  rousing  in  our  course  im- 
mense flocks  of  the  worthless  American  coot,  JFulica 
Americana,  the  mud-hen  of  the  natives. 

The  wharf  reached,  the  boats  landed,  supper  over, 
the  birds  counted  and  registered,  the  social  pipe  il- 
lumined, and  we  gathered  in  a  circle  round  the  fire 
of  our  parlor  for  improving  conversation. 

"  How  many  birds  have  we  killed  this  year  ?"  in- 
quired a  member. 

"The  record  shows  a  goodly  total  of  2,351,"  re- 
plied the  Secretary,  turning  to  the  register ;  "  al- 
most as  many  already  as  the  entire  return  of  last 
season,  during  which  we  only  killed  2,908." 

"And  the  better  varieties  seem  this  year  to  be 
more  numerous." 

"  In  that  particular  there  is  surprising  uniformity 
from  year  to  year.  Last  season  the  return  is  made 
up  aw  follows:  canvas-backs,  246;  red-heads,  122; 
blue-bills,  395;  mallards,  540;  dusky-ducks,  108; 
wood-ducks,  601 ;  blue-winged  teal,  474 ;  green- 
winged  teal,  39;  widgeons,  204;  pin-tails,  50;  gad- 
walls,  67  ;  spoonbills,  11;  ruddy-ducks,  2;  butter- 
balls,  7  ;  geese,  2  ;  quail,  14  ;  cormorants,  2  ; 
turkeys,  3 ;  great  hell-diver,  1 ;  and  this  year  the 
average  is  about  the  same." 

"  But  I  think,"  said  the  President,  "  the  canvas- 
backs  and  red-heads  are  earlier  and  better  than 
usual." 


234  DUCK  SHOOTING. 

•"They  are  rather  earlier  in  making  their  ap- 
pearance abundantly.  The  variation  is  never  great, 
however,  and  the  birds  appear  in  the  following 
order  :  the  wood-ducks  first,  being  plentiful  early  in 
September;  the  blue-winged  teal  begin  to  surpass 
them  about  the  20th  of  that  month,  and  soon  after- 
ward the  mallards  arrive;  widgeons  are  abundant 
by  the  middle  of  October,  and  canvas-backs  and 
red-heads  are  the  latest." 

"  Ah,"  burst  forth  the  unlucky  man,  enthusiasti- 
cally, "  the  wood-duck  shooting  is  my  favorite ; 
when  they  rise  from  the  lilies  they  are  easier  to 
kill  than  when  flying  past  at  full  speed ;  and  you 
have  a  punter  to  pole  the  boat  and  help  mark  the 
wounded  birds." 

"  October  has  my  preference,"  responded  the 
President,  with  glowing  eye;  "the  large  ducks — 
the  mallards,  canvas-backs,  and  red-heads — have 
then  arrived ;  the  blue-bills  and  teal  are  numerous ; 
and,  when  a  single  teal  flies  past,  a  man  has  to 
know  how  to  handle  his  gun  to  keel  him  over 
handsomely." 

"  But  mallards  dodge,  when  you  rise  to  shoot,  at 
the  report  of  the  first  barrel;  and  red-heads  and 
canvas-backs,  if  not  killed  stone  dead,  dive  and 
swim  off  under  water,  or,  catching  the  weeds  in 
their  bills,  hold  on  after  death  and  never  reappear. 
Have  you  noticed  the  large  teeth,  or  nicks,  in  the 
bills,  especially  of  red-heads  ?  " 

"Yes.  Those  long,  recurved  teeth  aid  them  in 
tearing  up  the  wild  celery,  on  which  they  feed.  I 


DUCK-SHOOTING.  235 

have  had  them  serve  me  the  trick  you  complain  of 
when  they  were  at  the  last  gasp — so  nearly  dead, 
that  I  have  pushed  out  and  been  on  the  point  of 
picking  them  up.  When  not  so  badly  hurt,  they 
will  swim  off  with  their  bill  only  projecting  above 
the  surface,  and  if  there  is  the  least  wind  this  is 
entirely  invisible.  The  trick  is  known  to  others  of 
the  duck  family;  even  the  ingenuous  wood-duck 
will  have  recourse  to  the  same  mean  subterfuge 
occasionally,  as  one  that  was  but  slightly  wounded 
proved  to  me  to-day." 

"  Is  it  true,"  inquired  the  fisherman,  "  that  other 
ducks  steal  from  the  canvas-backs  the 'wild  celery 
that  they  have  exhausted  themselves  in  procur- 
ing?" 

"  The  widgeons  have  the  credit  of  doing  so ;  but 
I  have  never  seen,  and  somewhat  doubt  it.  The 
canvas-back  is  too  large  and  strong  a  duck  to  be 
readily  trifled  with,  and  is  by  no  means  exhausted 
by  diving  to  the  depth  of  a  few  feet  after  celery. 
This  celery,  as  we  call  it — which  has  a  long,  deli- 
cate leaf,  resembling  broad-grass,  and  bears  the 
name  of  Zoster  a  valisneria  among  the  botanists — 
grows  in  water  about  five  feet  deep,  and  its  roots 
furnish  the  favorite  and  most  fattening  food  of.  the 
canvas-backs,  red-heads,  and,  strange  to  say,  mud- 
hens.  The  widgeon  is  not  a  large  nor  powerful 
duck ;  can  dive  no  further  than  to  put  its  head 
under  water,  while  its  tail  stands  perpendicularly 
above  the  surface  ;  and,  although  a  terrible  torment 
to  the  weak  and  gentle  mud-hen,  would  think  twice 


236  DUCK-SHOOTING. 

before  incensing  the  fierce  and  powerful  canvas-back. 
Of  a  calm  day  it  is  amusing  to  watch  the  flocks 
of  noisy  mud-hens,  collected  in  front  of  the  club- 
house, diving  for  their  food,  and  being  robbed  of 
it  by  the  widgeons.  The  latter  swims  rapidly 
among  them,  and  no  sooner  does  he  espy  one  com- 
ing to  the  surface,  with  his  bill  full  of  celery,  than 
he  pounces  upon  and  carries  it  off.  He  is  watchful 
and  voracious,  and  quickly  devours  the  food ;  while 
the  injured  mud-hen,  with  a  resigned  look,  takes  a 
long  breath  and  dives  for  another  morsel." 

"  Do  they  not  combine  to  drive  the  robber  away  ?" 

"  Occasionally ;  but  he  minds  their  blows  as  little 
as  their  scoldings,  and  generally  swims  off  with  his 
prize.  The  canvas-back,  however,  would  soon  teach 
him  better  manners.'' 

"Are  the  western  canvas-backs  as  delicate  and 
high-flavored  as  those  of  the  Chesapeake  ?" 

"  Fully  so,  as  my  friends  in  New  York,  who  have 
been  fortunate  enough  to  share  my  luck,  have  often 
testified.  Of  course,  when  they  first  come  they  are 
thin  and  poor,  but  having  the  same  food  as  is  found 
in  the  Chesapeake,  and  being  less  disturbed,  they 
soon  attain  excellent  condition,  and  are  entirely  free 
from  the  slightest  sedgy  flavor." 
'  "That  sedgy  or  fishy  taste  is  confined  mainly  to 
birds  shot  on  the  salt  water,  and  is  rarely  found  in 
any  birds  killed  upon  the  inland  lakes,  so  that  many 
— for  instance  the  bay-snipe — that  are  barely  pass- 
able when  shot  along  the  coast,  are  excellent  in  the 
interior." 


DUCK  SHOOTING.  237 

"And  yet  the  naturalists  class  the  canvas-back 
among  fuligiddB^  or  sea  ducks." 

"That  arises  from  some  scientific  peculiarity,  and 
is  not  universal.  He  is  certainly  a  fresh-water  duck, 
and  thousands  are  shot  here  yearly." 

"I  lose  a  great  many  crippled  birds,"  said  the 
unlucky  man,  meditatively ;  "  I  wonder  what  be- 
comes of  them  all  ?" 

"Many  die,  a  few  recover,  some  are  frozen  in 
when  the  bay  freezes  over ;  after  the  first  hard  frost 
large  numbers  can  be  picked  up,  but  they  are  so  poor 
as  Only  to  be  fit  to  send  to  the  New  York  market. 
Most  sportsmen  lose  many  ducks  that  they  should 
recover ;  considerable  practice  is  required  to  mark 
well,  but  the  search  after  a  bird  should  be  thorough, 
and  not  lightly  abandoned.  The  boat,  when  pushed 
into  the  reeds,  must  be  so  placed  that  it  can  be  easily 
shoved  off,  and  the  pole  kept  ready  for  instant  use. 
If,  however,  a  mallard  is  only  wounded,  and  falls 
into  the  weeds,  it  is  useless  to  go  after  him. 

"On  the  other  hand,  if  a  canvas-back,  but  slightly 
touched,  falls  in  open  water,  he  will  be  rarely  reco- 
vered ;  the  one  hides  in  the  weeds,  the  other  dives 
and  swims  under  water  prodigiously.  The  mallard 
and  canvas-back  are  the  types  of  two  classes — the 
former  is  a  marsh  duck,  the  latter  an  open-water 
duck.  The  mallard  lives  on  the  pond-lily  seeds,  and 
affects  the  shallow,  muddy  pond-holes ;  the  canvas- 
back  seeks  the  broad  channels,  and  devours  the 
roots  of  plants ;  the  one  dodges  at  the  flash  of  the 
gun  or  sight  of  the  sportsman,  the  other  moves  ma- 


233  DUCK-SHOOTING. 

jestically  onward,  regardless  of  the  havoc  that  the 
heavy  discharges  make  in  his  ranks.  Of  nearly  the 
same  size,  of  unsurpassable  delicacy  on  the  table,  of 
equal  vigor,  they  differ  utterly  in  their  habits." 

"  Speaking  of  types,"  said  the  unlucky  man,  re- 
calling unpleasant  reminiscences  of  numerous  misses, 
"  you  might  call  blue-bills  types  of  the  fast-flying 
and  dodging  ducks.  When  they  come  down  before 
a  stiff  wind,  and  are  making  their  best  time,  light- 
ning is  slow  by  comparison,  and  shot  does  not  seem 
to  me  to  go  quite  fast  enough." 

"  They  are  the  scaup  or  broad-bill  of  the  East,  Fu- 
ligula  Marila,  and  are  aptly  termed  the  bullet-winged 
duck.  They  are  undoubtedly  the  most  difficult  duck 
to  kill  that  flies.  I  have  known  a  thorough  sports- 
man and  excellent  shot  on  quail,  shoot  all  day  at 
them  without  killing  one.  You  must  make  great 
allowance  for  their  speed." 

"And,  moreover,"  added  the  President,  "  you  must 
load  properly ;  there  must  be  powder  enough  behind 
the  shot  to  send  it  clear  through  the  bird ;  one  pellet 
driven  in  that  way  will  kill  a  bird  that  would  carry 
off  a  dozen  lodged  beneath  the  skin  or  in  the  flesh." 

"  Perhaps  so,  but  I  doubt  its  feasibility,"  was  the 
response ;  "  no  small  shot  was  ever,  in  my  opinion, 
driven  through  the  body  of  a  duck  with  any  charge 
of  powder  at  over  thirty  yards.  I  use  light  powder 
and  plenty  of  shot." 

This  announcement  was  received  with  unanimous 
dissent,  and  the  President  expressed  the  general 
feeling  when  he  continued — 


DUCK-SHOOTING.  239 

"Heavy  shot  will  make  a  gun  recoil  painfully; 
but  if  the  shot  is  light  the  charge  of  powder  may 
be  large  without  producing  unpleasant  effects ;  the 
shot  will  be  driven  quick  and  strong,  and  the  bird 
deprived  of  life  instantaneously.  Perhaps  the  pellets 
are  not  driven  through  the  body,  but  the  blow  is 
severer  and  the  shock  is  more  stunning.  I  use  one 
ounce  of  shot  and  three  drachms  of  powder,  and 
would  prefer  to  increase  rather  than  diminish  the 
powder.  It  is  a  mistake  to  suppose  powder  does 
not  burn  because  black  particles  fall  to  the  ground 
if  it  is  fired  over  snow  or  white  paper ;  these,  I  take 
it,  are  flakes  of  charcoal  and  not  powder,  and  some 
will  fall,  no  matter  how  light  may  be  the  load." 

"  For  my  part,"  persisted  the  unlucky  man,  "  I 
think  the  crippling  of  birds  arises  from  our  inability 
to  judge  distances,  and  from  our  firing  at  birds  out 
of  reasonable  range.  The  patent  breech  was  meant 
to  remedy  the  necessity  for  such  heavy  charges  of 
powder  as  are  used  in  the  old-fashioned  flint-locks. 
Johnston,  the  author  of  an  admirable  treatise  on 
shooting,  which  is  now  out  of  print,  is  my  authority, 
and  he  says  that  an  over-charge  of  powder  makes  a 
gun  scatter  prodigiously  without  adding  proportion- 
ately to  the  force." 

"  That  depends  upon  the  character  of  the  bore," 
answered  the  Secretary ;  "  if  it  is  relieved  at  the 
breech,  and  after  narrowing  above,  made  a  perfect 
cylinder  towards  the  muzzle,  the  more  the  powder 
the  better  it  will  shoot." 

Seeing  that  an  interminable  discussion  was  about 


240  DUCK-SHOOTING. 

to  open,  branching  off,  in  all  likelihood,  into  the  com- 
parative qualities  of  powder  and  manufacturers  of 
guns,  the  President  interposed. 

"  This  is  a  dry,  serious,  and  solemn  conversation, 
and  as  every  member  has  already  made  up  his  mind 
on  the  subject,  not  very  improving ;  who  will  volun- 
teer to  tell  a  story  or  sing  a  song  ?" 

"  My  friend  here,"  replied  the  unlucky,  pointing 
to  the  lucky,  man,  "once  intimated  to  me  that  his 
first  day's  duck-shooting  was  the  best  and  pleas- 
antest  he  ever  had,  but  would  never  give  me  the 
satisfaction  of  the  particulars." 

"  The  story,  the  story,  let  us  have  the  story !"  "burst 
forth  the  chorus,  with  delight. 

"  I  will  tell  it  on  one  condition,"  responded  the 
party  addressed :  "  that  the  gentleman  who  sug- 
gested it  shall  give  a  true  account  of  his  first  day's 
trout-fishing." 

All  hands  shouted  with  delight  at  the  prospect  of 
two  stories,  scenting  a  joke  in  the  suggestion,  but 
the  unlucky  man  replied,  pitifully,  "  I  will  if  I  must, 
but  there  are  more  agreeable  episodes  in  my  exist- 
ence." 

"  Never  mind  that ;  if  I  confess,  so  must  you. 

"  Many  years  ago,  gentlemen,  myself  and  a 
friend  had  driven  down  on  Long  Island  for  a  few 
days  at  the  ducks.  He  was  an  old  sportsman,  and 
promised  to  initiate  me,  who  had  acquired  consider- 
able facility  with  my  gun,  but  had  never  yet  been 
in  a  battery  on  the  bay. 

"  It  is  not  necessary  to  say  at  what  house  we  stop- 


DUCK-SHOOTING.  2-il 

ped;  the  island  is  dotted  with  them — the  best  in 
the  country — and  as  it  was  necessary  to  be  up  at 
two  o'clock  in  the  morning  in  order  to  follow  down 
the  creek  and  row  out  to  the  feeding  grounds,  we 
retired  early.  Strict  injunctions  were  left  with  the 
hostler  to  wake  us  at  the  appointed  hour ;  but  as 
there  was  a  grand  ball  going  on  in  the  hall  adjoin- 
ing the  hotel,  his  recollection  was  not  to  be  depended 
upon. 

"  The  beds  were  good ;  but,  either  disturbed  by 
dreams  of  ducks  or  sounds  of  revelry,  my  sleep  was 
fitful.  I  was  at  last  awakened  by  a  loud  noise,  which 
I  took  to  be  some  one  knocking  at  the  door,  and 
sleepily  rising,  saw  a  light  shining  through  the  crack 
as  it  stood  ajar.  I  woke  my  companion,  who  re- 
sponded with  an  unwilling  grunt,  and  thinking  the 
hostler  had  left  the  candle  for  our  accommodation, 
I  stepped  out  to  get  it. 

"The  night  was  cold,  my  dress  was  light  and  airy, 
the  distant  sounds  of  expiring  revelry  were  still 
faintly  audible,  and  I  hastened  to  get  the  light  that 
I  might  hurry  on  warmer  clothes.  To  my  surprise, 
on  opening  the  door,  the  candle  appeared  to  be  some 
yards  off  on  the  floor,  in  the  middle  of  what  seemnd 
to  be  an  adjoining  room.  My  eyes,  dazzled  by  the 
sudden  change  from  total  darkness,  saw  little  as  I 
stumbled  forward;  but  when  I  turned,  light  in 
hand,  to  regain  my  room,  I  came  suddenly  upon  a 
bed,  and  stopped  as  though  shot. 

"  Gentlemen,  a  bed  is  nothing  unusual  or  surpris- 
ing in  a  country  tavern,  but  there  is  sometimes  a 
11 


242  DUCK-SHOOTING. 

great  deal  in  it.  In  this  particular  instance  there 
was  not  even  much  in  it,  but  that  little  was  of  the 
female  sex.  Astonishment  changed  to  admiration. 
She  was  very  pretty,  her  rosy  cheek  rested  pillowed 
on  one  little  hand,  while  the  other  arm  was  thrown 
gracefully  across  her  head,  framing  her  innocent 
child-like  face  in  a  cloud  of  white.  She  was  lying 
on  her  side,  and  below  her  arm  the  bed-clothes  sank 
down  to  her  waist  and  then  rose  in  a  magnificent 
swell.  Her  hair  in  massive  curls  poured  upon  the 
pillow,  and  one  strayed  round  her  throat  and  joined 
with  the  white  drapery  hi  protecting  her  neck. 

"Admiration  changed  to  curiosity.  I  stepped 
nearer,  bringing  the  light  so  that  while  it  did  not 
shine  strongly  on  her  eyes,  it  fell  upon  the  white 
drapery.  Man  is  but  a  weak  creature,  liable  to  be 
swayed  by  evil  passions.  Curiosity  has  always  been 
my  besetting  sin,  and  sudden  temptations  ought  to 
be  included  among  the  other  sudden  dangers  in  the 
prayer-book.  In  consequence  of  the  position  of  her 
arm,  the  clothes  had  fallen  back  from  her  shoulders, 
but  that  envious  curl  was  cruelly  unsatisfying ;  the 
white  drapery  rose  and  fell  with  the  long  breathing 
of  her  sleep.  My  first  impulse  was  to  retire  noise- 
lessly, but  curiosity  conquered ;  she  slept  so  sweetly, 
so  gracefully,  and  so  soundly.  Approaching  nearer, 
stealthily,  step  by  step,  I  carefully  put  forward  one 
hand,  and  gently  touched  the  curl — she  did  not 
move — then  quietly  gathering  it  up,  I  began  slowly 
drawing  it  aside.  It  lifted  and  fell  with  the  marble 
neck  beneath  like  a  brown  vein  across  it,  but  no 


DUCK-SHOOTING.  243 

other  motion  testified  that  life  pervaded  her  uncon- 
scious beauty." 

A  pause ;  the  chorus,  excited — "  What  next  ?  what 
next?" 

"  Gentlemen,  it  would  have  been  a  shameful  act 
to  take  advantage  of  her  innocent  sleep — a  mean, 
unworthy,  contemptible  act.  It  is  enough  to  say, 
gentlemen,  I  did  not  commit  it — for  at  that  moment 
she  moved." 

CHORUS— "Oh!" 

"  She  moved,  and  was  evidently  about  to  wake." 

CHORUS — "  What  did  you  do  then  ?  " 

"  Modesty  is  another  of  my  failings ;  it  is  no  small 
matter  to  be  found  by  a  lady  in  her  bed-room,  and 
you  must  recollect  my  dress  was  scanty.  Wishing, 
therefore,  to  spare  her  feelings  as  much  as  my  own, 
I  put  out  the  light,  and  standing  still,  listened. 
From  the  sound  as  she  moved,  it  was  clear  that  she 
was  awake  and  sitting  up  in  bed.  I  kept  as  quiet 
as  a  mouse,  no  longer  daring  to  stir  and  hardly  dar- 
ing to  breathe. 

" '  Who  is  there  ?'  asked  the  sweetest  little  sleepy 
voice  in  the  world ;  it  was  evidently  time  for  me  to 
leave  if  the  feelings  of  either  side  were  to  be  spared. 

"  *  Husband,  is  that  you  ?  How  late  you  are,  Os- 
car. I  wish  there  were  no  balls ;  you  have  let  the 
light  go  out  and  will  have  to  undress  in  the  dark, 
and  you  have  been  drinking ;  you  do  not  answer, 
what  are  you  mumbling  in  that  husky  voice ;  you 
do  not  walk  steady,  you  shuffle  with  your  feet ;  let 
me  smell  your  breath,  sir !' 


244  DUCK-SHOOTING. 

"Another  of  my  failings  is  inability  to  say  no.  A 
moment's  consideration  would  have  told  me  it  was 
far  from  honorable  to  assume  the  place  of  another 
person,  and  that  person  the  husband  of  a  pretty 
woman ;  but  in  my  state  of  hesitancy  or  virtuous 
indignation  at  being  falsely  accused  of  drinking,  or 
without  really  anticipating  what  would  happen,  I 
obeyed;  and  bringing  my  face  near  hers,  encoun- 
tered the  sweetest  pair  of  lips  in  Christendom. 

"  *  I  am  not  quite  sure,'  she  said, '  let  me  see  again.' 

"  Now  that  was  clearly  her  fault,  and  left  me  no 
excuse  for  refusing  her  absolute  satisfaction. 

" '  Make  haste,  Oscar,'  she  whispered,  '  how  cold 
you  are.'"  ,f><  . 

The  lucky  man  paused,  while  the  chorus  breath- 
lessly broke  in  with : 

"Did  you  make  haste?" 

"  Gentlemen,  man  is  a  contemptible  creature  in 
his  treatment  of  woman ;  she  is  infinitely  his  supe- 
rior in  every  good  quality,  and  he  absolutely  takes 
advantage  of  his  baser  capacities  to  betray  her  supe- 
rior nature.  He  matches  his  cunning  against  her 
truthfulness,  his  selfishness  against  her  disinterested- 
ness, his  deceitfulness  against  her  affection.  Wo- 
man's nobleness  of  heart  is  a  provision  of  nature 
to  prevent  the  degeneration  of  our  species ;  were 
women  as  bad  as  men,  our  children  would  be  brutes 
or  idiots.  Traits  of  mind  and  heart  are  transmit- 
ted—" 

CHORUS — "  Never  mind  all  that,  did  you  make 
haste  ?" 


DUCK-SHOOTING.  245 

"  Gentlemen,  with  those  feelings,  I  could  not  long 
remain  in  that  room  ;  it  was  time  to  make  haste ;  and 
mumbling  some  excuse,  I  escaped  before  a  noise, 
that  seemed  to  be  ascending  the  stairs,  approached. 
My  friend  wondered  at  the  time  I  had  been  away, 
abused  me  for  allowing  the  light  to  go  out,  but  was 
easily  convinced  that  the  time  had  been  lengthened 
by  his  dreams.  Virtue  is  its  own  reward,  and,  gen- 
tlemen, I  never  shall  regret  that  night." 

CHORUS — "  But  you  have  not  said  a  word  of  the 
duck-shooting." 

"  Well,  to  tell  the  truth,  I  heard  next  day  that 
Oscar  was  inquiring  for  me,  and  concluded  that  the 
shooting  would  be  better  elsewhere." 

The  shout  of  laughter  that  succeeded  this  answer 
died  away,  and  the  unlucky  man  was  called  upon 
for  his  adventure. 

UNLUCKY  MAN. — "  Gentlemen,  I  can  give  you  no 
such  entertaining  history  as  my  friend.  In  all  my 
life,  I  never  saw  a  woman  unless  she  was  fully  dressed 
and  prepared  for  it — much  as  I  would  like  to — for  I 
am  not  endowed  with  one  half  of  his  virtuous  senti- 
ments. But  my  adventure  also  occurred  on  Long 
Island,  whither  I  had  gone  to  learn  trout-fishing.  I 
had  a  new  rod  of  Conroy's  best  and  most  expensive 
pattern,  a  book  full  of  flies,  a  basket,  a  bait-box,  a 
net,  a  gaff,  and  all  things  appurtenant,  and  was 
especially  proud  of  my  fishing  suit,  which  a  brother 
of  the  angle  had  kindly  selected  for  me.  My  boots 
came  above  my  knees,  and  were  of  yellow  Russian 
leather,  with  which  my  brown  pants  matched  ad- 


246  DUCK-SHOOTING. 

mirably,  while  a  blue  vest,  a  white  flannel  coat,  red 
neck-tie  and  crimson  cap,  combined  all  the  colors 
that  were  least  likely  to  alarm  the  fish. 

"  The  other  anglers  collected  at  the  hotel  kindly 
aided  me  with  their  advice,  for  which  I  was  truly 
grateful.  They  rigged  out  my  leader  with  flies, 
and  convincingly  proving  that  the  more  flies  used 
the  more  fish  must  be  taken,  fastened  on  thirteen. 
Conroy  had  hardly  served  me  fairly  in  selecting  my 
assortment,  for  they  were  pronounced  by  all  riot  to 
be  half  large  or  bright  enough.  It  was  clear  that  the 
larger  the  fly  the  easier  the  fish  could  see  it,  and  the 
more  surely  it  would  catch ;  so  they  loaned  me  a 
number,  principally  yellow,  green,  and  blue,  which 
was  the  more  generous  of  them,  as  they  had  but  few 
of  the  same  sort  themselves. 

"They  impressed  upon  me  to  be  up  early,  because 
trout  will  not  bite  after  sunrise — besides,  I  knew 
from  the  proverb  that  worms  were  more  easily  ob- 
tained early;  and  it  was  still  dark  when,  having 
passed  a  restless  few  hours,  I  awoke  and  dressed. 
The  house  was  silent,  not  a  person  to  interfere  with 
me,  and  having  set  up  my  rod  the  night  before,  I 
crept  cautiously  down  stairs.  The  tip  would  slash 
about  and  knock  at  the  doors  and  on  the  walls  as  I 
passed,  and  gave  me  great  trouble  in  turning  the 
corners  of  the  stairs,  but  I  reached  the  hall  door 
safely  and  stepped  out  upon  the  piazza. 

"  I  had  hardly  congratulated  myself,  when,  hear- 
ing a  suspicious  growl,  and  recollecting  that  the 
tavern-keeper  had  a  cress  mastiff,  I  turned,  and  saw 


DUCK  SHOOTING.  217 

him  in  the  dim  light  making  straight  for  me.  Run- 
ning was  never  my  forte,  hut,  gentlemen,  my  speed 
round  that  house  with  that  mastiff  after  me  has 
rarely  been  equalled ;  he  kept  it  up  well,  however, 
and  if  he  could  have  turned  a  corner  readily,  would 
have  caught  me.  Recovering  my  presence  of  mind 
in  the  third  round,  I  darted  through  the  hall  door, 
and  slamming  it  to  behind  me,  heard  my  enemy 
bounce  against  it,  and  after  a  growl  and  a  sniff  or 
two,  turn  away  in  disgust. 

"  Upon  regaining  my  breath,  I  ascended  to  my 
room,  and  loading  the  revolver  which  I  always  carry 
on  dangerous  journeys,  returned  to  the  attack,  de- 
termined on  revenge.  Strange  to  say,  however,  the 
cowardly  beast,  the  moment  the  pistol  was  presented 
at  him,  uttered  a  low  whine  and  shrank  away.  Dis- 
gusted with  his  cowardice,  I  seized  up  my  rod,  which 
had  been  dropped  in  my  first  flight,  and  pursuing 
him  howling  piteously  three  times  round  the  house, 
laid  it  on  him  soundly. 

"  It  must  have  been  poor  stuff,  for  the  tip  broke. 
Conroy  mended  it  afterwards,  without  charge, 
when  I  told  him  the  circumstances.  But  I  put  in 
a  spare  one,  and  having  dug  my  box  full  of  worms, 
went  to  the  shed  where  my  horse  was  left  stand- 
ing, ready  harnessed,  from  the  night  before.  There 
is  nothing  like  attention  to  these  little  matters  in 
time ;  for,  if  the  hostler  had  had  to  harness  him,  he 
might  have  detained  me  many  precious  minutes. 

"A  half-hour's  drive  soon  brought  me  to  the 
pond,  and,  after  hitching  the  animal  to  the  fence — 


248  DUCK-SHOOTING. 

for  it  was  necessary  to  turn  into  the  field  from  the 
main  road — I  walked  down  to  the  bank  and  jumped 
into  a  boat.  Unfortunately,  it  was  chained  to  a 
staple  and  padlocked ;  the  inn-keeper  had  forgotten 
to  give  me  the  key.  They  were  all  the  same  but 
one,  lying  on  the  shore  and  turned  bottom  up,  that 
did  not  seem  to  be  sound.  No  time,  however,  was 
to  be  lost ;  the  streaks  in  the  east  were  beginning 
to  turn  red — an  indication  that  the  sun  was  rising — 
and  the  hour  for  fishing  would  soon  be  over.  I 
launched  the  boat,  such  as  it  was,  and  pushed  oif. 

"  Casting  the  fly  is  difficult,  but  casting  thirteen 
flies  is  almost  impossible.  The  boat  was  leaky ;  the 
fish  did  not  rise,  and  the  water  did.  I  bailed  as 
well  as  I  could  with  one  hand,  and  fished  with  the 
other,  till  at  last,  almost  exhausted,  I  saw  the  sun 
rise.  As  a  desperate  resource,  however,  the  bait- 
box  came  into  play.  I  removed  the  flies  and  substi- 
tuted a  hook  and  worm  ;  but  while  thus  employed, 
and  unable  to  bail,  the  water  gained  on  me  rapidly. 
Hardly  had  the  bait  touched  the  water  before  a  fine 
fish  seized  it.  I  tried  my  best  to  pull  him  out,  but 
he  would  not  come — the  rod  was  such  a  miserable, 
weak  affair  that  it  bent  like  a  switch.  The  trout 
swam  about  in  every  direction,  and  tried  to  get 
under  stumps  and  weeds  and  to  break  my  line ;  but 
I  held  him  fast  and  reeled  in — for  rny  friends  had 
explained  to  me  what  the  reel  was  for — and  was 
about  to  lay  down  rny  rod  and  fish  him  out  with 
the  landing-net,  when — the  boat  sank." 

CHOEUS — "  Could  you  swim  ?  '' 


DUCK-SHOOTING.  249 

"  No ;  but  the  water  was  only  up  to  my  arm-pits, 
and  I  was  about  to  wade  ashore,  when  a  colored 
gentleman,  who  had  arrived  and  been  sitting  on  the 
bank  for  the  last  few  minutes,  shouted  to  me  that  it 
was  his  boat  and  I  must  bring  it  with  me.  I  an- 
swered, savagely,  that  I  would  do  nothing  of  the 
sort,  when  he  began  to  abuse  me  and  call  me  thief, 
and  say  I  had  stolen  his  boat,  and  he  would  have 
me  arrested.  So  I  thought  I  had  better  comply, 
and  waded  along,  dragging  it  after  me.  The  bot- 
tom was  muddy,  and  I  slipped  once  or  twice 
and  went  all  under.  It  was  probably  then  that 
the  tisb  got  off;  but  my  colored  friend  took  pity 
on  me,  and  pointed  out  to  me  the  best  places  to 
walk. 

"I  was  nearly  ashore,  and  had  clambered  upon  a 
bog,  as  the  gentleman  advised,  and,  by  his  direction, 
I  jumped  to  a  piece  of  nice-looking  green  grass.  I 
have  always  thought  he  deceived  me  in  this,  for  it 
turned  out  to  be  a  quagmire,  and  I  sank  at  once 
above  my  waist  in  solid,  sticky  mud.  The  matter 
now  became  serious;  my  weight  is  no  trifle,  and 
every  motion  sank  me  deeper  and  deeper.  I  im- 
plored the  colored  man  to  help  me  out ;  to  wade  in 
to  me,  and  let  me  climb  on  his  back ;  I  offered  him 
money  profusely ;  and — would  you  believe  it? — he 
laughed,  he  roared,  he  shouted,  he  rolled  over  in  an 
agony  of  mirth.  He  asked  me  whether  I  was  afraid 
to  die — that  only  cowards  were  afraid  to  die.  I 
did  not  dare  to  say  no,  lest  he  should  take  me  at 
my  word,  and  was  ashamed  to  say  yes ;  but,  as  I 
11* 


250  DUCK-SHOOTING. 

kept  on  sinking,  I  had  to  own  up  that  I  was  afraid, 
and  then  he  only  laughed  louder  than  ever. 

"  My  feelings  were  beyond  description — fury  does 
not  adequately  describe  ray  rage ;  but  fear  so  tem- 
pered it,  that  I  seemed  to  change  suddenly  from 
the  extreme  of  heat  to  the  extreme  of  cold.  I 
would  begin  by  swearing  at  him,  and  end  by  im- 
ploring ;  I  begged,  cursed,  prayed,  and  raved. 
Overcome  by  his  unrestrained  delight,  at  last  I 
threatened — pouring  out  upon  him  the  vilest  abuse, 
and  dire  menaces  of  what  I  would  do  when  I  did 
get  out.  The  prospect  of  that,  however,  rapidly 
diminished — the  nasty,  slimy  inud  rose  by  percep- 
tible degrees — and  then  he  made  me  take  back  all 
my  threats  and  apologize  to  him.  In  the  agony  of 
my  returning  terror,  he  actually  made  me  beg  his 
pardon. 

"  When,  however,  hope  was  nearly  over  with  me, 
he  slowly,  with  maddening  deliberation,  took  a  rail 
from  the  nearest  fence,  and,  interspersing  the  opera- 
tion with  much  improving  advice,  began  to  pry  me 
out.  As  I  rose  towards  the  upper  world  my  courage 
returned,  and  my  revenge  was  merely  waiting  till 
my  body  touched  terra  firma  to  take  ample  amends. 
Even  that  satisfaction  was  destined  to  disappoint- 
ment ;  for  when  I  was  so  far  out,  that  with  the  aid 
of  the  rail  I  could  help  myself,  he  dropped  it,  and, 
suspecting  my  intention,  he  scuttled  off  as  fast  as 
his  black  legs  would  carry  him. 

"  What  an  object  I  presented  after  effecting  my 
escape — from  head  to  foot  one  mass  of  mud ;  my 


DUCK-SHOOTING.  251 

handsome  clothes,  my  hands  and  face,  all  blacker 
than  my  ebony  friend,  and  stiff  and  heavy  with  the 
noisome  conglomeration.  After  resting  for  a  few 
minutes,  I  gathered  up  my  rod  and  started  for  the 
wagon,  when  what  should  I  see  in  the  other  end  of 
the  lot  but  a  bull.  A  single  glance  showed  me 
what  I  had  to  expect ;  no  bull  could  stand  such  an 
object  as  I  was.  I  ran  and  he  ran.  I  made  for  the 
wagon  and  he  after  me.  Such  a  picture  as  I  must 
have  presented,  flying  from  an  infuriate  bull,  may 
seem  funny  to  you,  gentlemen,  but  was  not  to  me. 
We  both  reached  the  wagon  and  both  went  into  it 
together — I  into  the  seat,  he  into  the  body ;  the  re- 
sult being  that  I  went  flying  out  again,  on  the  other 
side,  over  the  fence.  The  horse,  which  at  that  mo- 
ment must  have  been  dreaming,  or  sleeping  the  sleep 
he  did  not  have  the  night  before,  aroused  by  the  crash, 
cast  one  look  behind  and  burst  his  bonds  and  fled. 

"If  was  a  long  walk  home  ;  people  looked 
strangely  at  me  on  the  way,  and  some  unfeeling 
ones  laughed.  My  wagon  was  broken,  n>y  horse 
was  ruined,  my  clothes  were  spoiled ;  and  the  only 
consolation  I  had,  was  that  my  brother  anglers  at 
the  hotel  felt  and  expressed  such  intense  sympathy 
for  my  sufferings." 

The  resigned  tones  and  manner  of  the  speaker 
were  inimitable,  and  his  story  was  received  with 
great  satisfaction  and  closed  the  evening's  amuse- 
ments. All  parties  having  resolved  upon  an  early 
start,  retired  early,  and  enjoyed  a  rest  such  as  the 
sportsman  only  knows. 


252  DUCK-SHOOTING. 

One  of  the  attaches  of  our  club-house,  without 
whom  it  would  be  deprived  of  many  pleasant  fea- 
tures, and  who  is  a  remarkable  and  eccentric 
character,  is  called  Henry — a  Canadian  Frenchman. 
He  possesses  the  lightheartedness,  the  honesty 
and  trustworthiness  of  that  peculiar  class,  with  the 
strongest  prejudices  against  mean  and  underhanded 
actions  and  those  who  are  guilty  of  them  ;  he  is,  in 
his  own  obstinate  way,  devoted  to  the  service  of 
those  who  enjoy  his  esteem.  Animated  with  strong 
dislikes,  he  is  barely  polite  to  those  who  have  ex- 
cited his  distrust,  while  he  will  do  anything  for  his 
favorites.  He  is  a  good  shot,  and  thoroughly  ac- 
quainted with  the  marsh  and  the  habits  of  the 
birds,  but  on  no  terms  will  he  make  any  sugges- 
tions as  to  the  most  promising  localities.  To  the 
question,  no  matter  how  casually  or  confidingly 
uttered : 

"  Well,  Henry,  where  had  1  better  go,  to-day?  " 
He  will  respond,  looking  you  calmly  in  the  face, 
and  in  a  slightly  admonitory  tone : 

"  You  know  I  never  give  advice,  sir." 

His  greatest  favorites  can  obtain  no  more  satisfac- 
tory answer,  and  in  fact  not  much  information  of 
any  kind,  from  him  in  relation  to  the  flight  or 
haunts  of  the  birds.  He  appears  to  have '  dis- 
covered that  knowledge  worth  having  is  worth 
working  for,  and  is  resolved  that  every  man  shall 
be  his  own  schoolmaster.  lie  has  quite  an  insight 
into  character,  and  appreciates  the  members  of  the 
club  and  their  peculiarities, 


DUCK-SHOOTING.  253 

One  day  a  party,  including  a  number  who  were 
not  members,  had  been  snipe-shooting,  and  some 
of  the  latter  indulged  the  habit  of  pushing  on  be- 
fore their  neighbor  to  shoot  any  bird  they  may  have 
seen  alight,  or  had  reason  to  believe  was  upon  his 
beat.  Afterwards  Henry  remarked,  as  a  sort  of  so- 
liloquy, "  He  was  a  poor  man — did  not  have  much 
education,  and  supposed  he  did  not  know ;  but  he 
did  not  think  it  right  for  one  sportsman  to  run  in 
ahead  of  another  in  order  to  shoot  a  bird  before 
him.  Probably  he  was  wrong;  but  that  was  the 
way  he  felt,  and  could  not  help  it." 

It  was  this  curious  individual  who  waked  us  the 
next  morning  at  an  hour  before  daylight,  and  enjoyed 
heartily  the  satisfaction  of  rousing  us  up  at  that  un- 
seemly time.  We  were  no  way  loth,  however,  and 
hastily  swallowing  our  breakfasts  and  launching  our 
boats,  pushed  out  under  cover  of  the  darkness  for 
our  respective  points.  As  yet  the  water  and  land 
were  scarcely  distinguishable,  and  localities  could 
only  be  determined  by  intuition.  Night  was  still 
brooding  with  outstretched  wings  on  the  earth ;  the 
sky  seemed  to  be  close  overhead,  and  the  clouds 
could  not  be  distinguished  from  the  open  heavens. 
Slowly,  however,  the  outlines  of  the  horizon  be- 
came apparent ;  then  the  heavy  masses  of  lowering 
cloud  that  hung  in  the  eastern  sky,  and  left  a  nar- 
row, transparent  strip  of  light  between  themselves 
and  the  horizon,  came  out  in  strong  relief;  the  stars 
faded  and  turned  dim ;  trees,  bushes,  and  distant 
elevations — the  minutiae  of  the  landscape — ap- 


254  DUCK-SHOOTING. 

peared  ;  long  lines  of  sedge-grass  and  reeds  sprang 
up  from  the  water ;  the  eastern  sky,  and  especially 
the  bright  strip  beneath  the  cloud,  became  lighter  ; 
a  roseate  tinge  spread  itself  over  the  meadows, 
deepening  to  intensity  in  the  east,  and  at  last  the 
sun  peeped  over  the  horizon. 

Occasionally  ducks  will  move  at  the  first  break 
of  dawn  ;  but  frequently,  as  in  the  present  instance, 
they  do  not  fly  till  about  sunrise  ;  then  the  canvas- 
backs  commenced  corning  in  from  the  open  water ; 
the  red-heads  accompanied  them ;  and  the  mallards, 
aroused  from  safe  beds  among  the  reeds,  flew  with 
loud  quackings  overhead.  Later,  the  rapid  blue- 
bills  and  teal  darted  past,  the  pin-tails  moved 
majestically  in  stately  lines,  and  the  diminutive 
butter-balls  hurried  by.  The  rising  sun  dissipated 
the  clouds,  and  the  increasing  wind  announced  a 
glorious  ducking-day. 

To  enjoy  this  sport  thoroughly,  or  to  make  the 
most  of  the  chances  oifered,  requires  long  practice 
and  peculiar  skill ;  but,  when  this  skill  has  been  ac- 
quired, no  specialty  in  sportmanship  can  be  carried 
to  higher  perfection,  or  confer  more  intense  delight. 
To  observe  quickly  and  note  the  direction  of  flight 
of  the  distant  flock ;  to  catch  sight  of  the  single 
bird  just  topping  the  reeds;  to  hide  well  from  the 
sharp  eyes  of  the  approaching  ducks;  to  keep  a 
steady  footing,  yielding  to  the  treacherous  motions 
of  the  unsteady  boat  without  losing  self-command ; 
to  measure  the  distance  accurately  from  birds  pass- 
ing high  in  air;  to  select  the  proper  moment  to 


DUCK-SHOOTING.  255 

fire,  and  to  determine  correctly  the  speed  of  the 
moving  object ;  to  do  all  these  things  at  once,  with- 
out hesitation  or  failure  in  any  particular,  requires 
in  a  man  the  highest  qualities  of  a  sportsman.  The 
wonder  is  that  success  is  so  often  attained  ;  for  there 
are  many  men  who  will  kill  almost  every  bird  that 
comes  fairly  within  range,  and  who  will  tell  you  before 
they  shoot  whether  they  are  sure  of  killing  or  not. 

Unfortunately  our  party,  although  tolerably  pro- 
ficient, were  far  from  perfect.  Many  were  the  fair 
shots  missed,  or  only  half  hit,  and  more  still  were 
the  impossible  shots  that  were  wasted.  The  wind 
drove  the  birds  upon  the  long  neck  of  reeds  called 
Grassy  Point,  where  several  of  us  had  located 
ourselves,  and  the  river-scows,  or  small  boats,  oc- 
casionally passing  kept  them  in  motion. 

During  the  morning  several  flocks  of  swans  were 
seen,  looking,  when  they  passed  in  front  of  a  dark 
cloud,  like  flying  snow-flakes.  Although  somewhat 
resembling  the  appearance  of  geese,  at  a  distance, 
the  beat  of  their  wings  and  their  trumpet-voiced 
cry  are  altogether  different.  They  were  very  shy, 
keeping  far  out  of  range ;  but  excited  our  nerves 
at  the  mere  thought  of  what  glory  would  be  con- 
ferred if  they  should  happen  to  come  within  the 
proper  distance. 

One  of  our  party,  however,  acquired  but  little 
credit  by  a  shot  which  he  made  at  a  flock  of  geese 
that  passed  within  twenty  yards  of  him.  He  was 
of  Milesian  descent,  and  explained  the  occurrence 
afterwards  as  follows : 


256  DUCK-SHOOTING. 

"  You  see,  I  was  watching  them  come  closer  and 
closer,  and  making  my  calculation  to  pick  out  two 
fine  ones.  I  knew  the  fellow  at  the  head  was  an 
old  gander,  and  tough ;  but  right  behind  him  came 
two  tender,  juicy  youngsters — altogether  the  fattest 
and  best  in  the  whole  flock.  Well,  it  took  me  some 
time  to  make  this  selection,  and,  letting  the  old  one 
go  by,  I  was  just  about  preparing  to  knock  over  the 
two  others  right  and  left — and  done  it  I  should 
have,  because  I  intended  to,  you  know.  Well,  I 
put  up  my  gun,  and  was  about  taking  aim,  and 
was  waiting  for  them  to  get  just  in  the  right  po- 
sition— for  I  was  as  cool  as  I  am  this  moment ;  an 
old  hunter  like  me  is  not  easily  flurried.  Well,  they 
were  almost  ready,  and  I  was  on  the  point  of  cut- 
ting them  down,  when  somebody  else — bad  luck  to 
him — about  a  hundred  yards  off,  fired  into  the 
flock.  Of  course  they  flirted  in  every  direction, 
and  darted  about  so,  that  I  lost  sight  of  those  I 
selected ;  and  how  could  you  expect  me  to  kill  any 
others  when  I  had  made  up  my  mind  to  have 
those?  You  need  not  laugh  because  I  missed 
with  both  barrels ;  I  wouldn't  have  missed  if  the 
birds  had  been  in  their  proper  places,  where  I  was 
pointing  my  gun." 

So  it  was  that  we  obtained  no  geese.  But  the 
canvas-backs  and  mallards,  in  the  early  morning, 
made  up  for  the  deficiency ;  and  when,  towards  mid- 
day, they  ceased  flying,  sbme  of  our  party  resolved 
to  pole  for  wood-ducks. 

To  do  this,  as  has  been  heretofore  intimated,  re- 


DUCK-SHOOTING.  257 

quires  more  practice  than  even  shooting  from 
"  points  " — exacting  from  the  sportsman  not  merely 
readiness  in  handling  the  gun,  but  activity  of  mo- 
tion and  accuracy  of  balance.  The  gun,  at  full 
cock,  is  laid  in  its  rack  across  the  thwart ;  or,  as  I 
prefer,  from  one  thwart  to  another,  with  the  trig- 
gers up ;  the  sportsman,  standing  erect  on  the  stern, 
wields  his  pole  with  care,  avoiding  noise,  and  never 
by  any  chance  touching  the  side  of  the  beat  with 
it,  for  nothing  alarms  the  birds  so  much  as  rapping 
on  the  side  of  the  boat,  although  it  is  not  easy  to 
avoid  doing  so.  He  faces  forward,  raises  the  pole 
carefully,  and  replacing  it  without  a  splash  or  a  blow 
on  the  crackling  stems  or  leaves  of  the  lilies,  uses 
his  body  as  a  fulcrum  as  often  as  he  wishes  to  alter 
the  direction  of  the  boat.  He  works  his  way  against 
the  wind  as  much  as  possible,  and,  casting  his  eyes 
in  every  direction,  is  always  on  the  alert.  Suddenly, 
with  a  roar  like  distant  thunder,  a  wood-duck,  gene- 
rally the  male,  starts  from  the  weeds,  and  with  a 
curious  cry,  like  that  of  a  wailing  infant,  makes  the 
best  of  his  way  from  the  approaching  danger;  in- 
stantly the  sportsman  drops  the  pole,  wherever  it 
may  be — in  mid  air  or  deep  in  the  mud,  just  planted 
or  at  its  full  reach — and  springing  to  his  gun,  raises 
it  with  rapidity  but  deliberation,  and,  if  the  bird 
has  not  already  gained  a  safe  distance,  discharges 
it  with  the  best  effect  he  is  able  to  command.  Fre- 
quently, at  the  report,  another  bird  will  start,  and 
offer  a  fair  and  generally  successful  shot. 

To  one  accustomed  to  kill  quail,  this  shooting, 


258  DUCK  SHOOTING. 

after  the  awkwardness  arising  from  the  motion  of 
the  boat  is  overcome,  is  not  difficult ;  but  the  knack 
of  dropping  the  pole  at  once  is  almost  unattainable. 
Most  persons,  at  first,  frantically  endeavor  to  de- 
posit the  pole  in  the  boat,  and  cannot  drop  it 
instantly ;  others  give  it  an  energetic  push.  The 
former  allow  the  birds  time  to  escape,  while  the  lat- 
ter increase  the  unsteadiness  of  the  boat. 

The  birds  usually  rise  well,  attaining  the  height 
of  twenty  feet  before  they  move  directly  away,  and 
hence  present  a  good  shot.  If  they  are  missed, 
they  may  be  marked  down,  pursued,  and  started 
again;  and  as  they  are  frequently  very  numerous, 
and  rise  at  unexpected  moments,  they  keep  the 
sportsman  excited,  until,  worn  out  with  the  exces- 
sive and  unaccustomed  labor,  he  has  to  stop  and 
rest.  If  the  water  is  low  the  poling  is  hard  work, 
and  at  the  most  favorable  times  will  be  found  suf- 
ficiently exhausting.  The  birds  principally  frequent 
the  lily  beds,  which  stretch  out  in  broad  patches 
where  the  water  is  moderately  deep ;  but  they  are 
also  found  in  open  spots  among  the  high  reeds,  and 
occasionally  among  the  deer-tongue. 

There  are  several  kinds  of  weeds  growing  in  the 
shallows  of  the  bay,  and  restricted  in  their  extent 
by  its  depth.  The  reeds,  which  in  the  fall  resemble 
a  ripe  field  of  grain,  have  crimson  stems,  and  nar- 
row yellow  leaves,  almost  inclosing  the  stems  at 
their  base  and  streaming  gracefully  in  the  wind  at 
the  top ;  they  thrive  in  shallow  water,  and,  attain- 
ing a  height  of  twelve  feet,  form  the  hiding-places 


DUCK-SHOOTING.  259 

of  the  sportsman.  The  wild  rice  has  a  greenish- 
yellow  stem,  with  longer  joints  and  without  leaves ; 
it  branches  at  the  end  into  the  seed-receptacles,  and 
is  not  found  in  such  large  patches.  The  deer- 
tongue  grows  in  deeper  water,  and  retains  its  green 
hue  till  the  weather  intimates  that  winter  is  present. 
It  has  a  leaf  like  a  dull  spear-head,  that  projects  but 
a  few  inches  above  the  surface ;  and  its  stout  sterns, 
springing  up  close  together,  constitute  a  serious 
obstacle  to  the  advancing  boat.  There  are  also 
scattered  patches  of  weeds,  usually  called  grass 
because  they  are  green,  but  with  a  round,  hollow, 
tapering  stem,  or  leaf,  that  has  no  resemblance 
whatever  to  grass. 

Early  in  the  season,  when  there  are  few  birds  fly- 
ing over  the  points,  and  the  young,  tender,  and  gen- 
tle wood-ducks  crowd  the  marshes  and  will  permit 
an  easy  approach,  it  is  customary  to  employ  a  pun- 
ter, who  poles  the  boat  while  the  sportsman  sits  on 
the  forward  thwart,  gun  in  hand,  ready  in  a  moment 
to  cut  down  the  feeble  birds.  But  if  any  of  the 
shooting  is  to  be  done  from  the  points,  the  punter 
will  be  found  in  the  way,  increasing  the  unsteadi- 
ness of  the  boat  and  augmenting  the  danger,  already 
sufficiently  great.  Although  by  no  means  proficient, 
I  always  prefer  poling  myself,  and  will  never  permit 
any  guns  in  the  boat  but  my  own. 

On  the  day  more  particularly  referred  to  in  this 
chapter,  we  found  the  birds  plentiful,  although  ra- 
ther wild,  and  had  grand  sport,  starting  the  crying 
wood-ducks  and  the  quacking  mallards  from  their 


260  DUCK-SHOOTING. 

hiding-places,  and  killing  a  goodly  number  in  spite 
of  their  sharp  ears  and  strong  wings. 

Of  the  particular  shots,  the  numerous  misses,  the 
various  mishaps,  it  were  vain  to  tell.  A  baptism  in 
the  shallow  bay-water  is  regarded  as  a  necessary 
initiation,  and  not  being  dangerous,  the  ceremony  is 
frequently  repeated.  Good  shots  are  rarer  than  bad 
ones,  even  with  the  best  marksmen,  and  perhaps  the 
author  would  have  to  vindicate  truth  by  telling  some 
awkward  blunders  of  his  own,  and  thus  forfeit  the 
reader's  respect  for  ever.  It  is  sufficient  for  the  read- 
er to  recall  the  best  day's  sport  at  ducks  he  ever 
had,  to  imagine  his  own  shooting  considerably  im- 
proved, his  strength  and  activity  augmented,  and  his 
promptest  deliberation  surpassed ;  and  he  will  have 
a  faint  idea  of  our  performance.  It  is  enough  to 
say  the  birds  were  there,  and  we  were  there. 

Towards  night  we  occupied  a  series  of  points 
above  the  Gap,  as  it  is  called — an  opening  between 
the  island  where  the  house  is  situated  and  the  land 
beyond — and  waited  for  the  evening  flight.  The 
wind  had  died  away,  and  as  the  sun  was  setting,  the 
mallards  came  in  from  the  lake  to  pass  the  night. 
Innumerable  flocks,  one  after  another,  appeared  from 
behind  the  trees,  and  passing  overhead,  settled  down 
into  the  reeds.  By  twos,  threes,  or  hundreds  in  a 
flock,  in  straight,  even  lines  of  battle,  or  bent  like 
the  two  sides  of  a  triangle,  or  in  long  single  file,  their 
wings  whistling  in  the  still  air,  or  producing  reports 
like  pop-guns  as  they  flirted  or  touched  one  another 
— immense  numbers  moved  over  us. 


DUCK-SHOOTING.  261 

Having  ascertained  by  several  ineffectual  shots 
that  they  were  far  out  of  range,  we  watched  them 
with  delight  and  curiosity,  wondering  whence  they 
could  all  come,  and  whither  they  were  going.  There 
was  no  abatement  or  pause  till  the  increasing  dark- 
ness shut  them  out  from  our  sight.  Had  we  been 
prepared  with  Ely's  wire  cartridge  we  could  have 
rained  destruction  among  them,  but  as  it  was  we 
only  killed  a  few  chance  birds ;  and  then  reassem- 
bling our  party  where  the  open  lead  joined  the  bay, 
we  returned  to  the  club-house  together. 

The  next  day  being  clear  and  still,  it  was  devoted 
to  fishing  and  exploring.  A  Kentuckian  who  was 
among  our  numbers,  having  no  fishing  in  his  own 
State,  and  knowing  nothing  of  salmon  or  striped- 
bass,  and  little  of  trout,  was  devoted  to  black-bass  fish- 
ing. Persuading  the  writer  to  go  in  the  boat  with 
him,  while  two  friends  accompanied  us  in  another, 
we  crossed  the  bay,  and  having  fastened  large  Buel's 
spoons  to  the  end  of  stout  hand-lines,  proceeded  to 
troll  in  the  most  primitive  manner. 

The  bass  were  plentiful,  and  rushing  from  their 
lairs  in  the  weeds  close  to  the  shore,  darted  out 
after  the  boat  had  passed,  and  devoured  our  baits. 
Although  quite  large,  they  gave  feeble  play,  turning 
over  and  over  in  the  water,  and  rarely  jumping  with 
the  vigor  of  fish  brought  up  in  cooler  latitudes ;  in 
fact,  the  river  and  lake  bass  differ  so  greatly  as  to 
seem  almost  to  belong  to  different  species.  The  river 
fish,  which  lie  in  the  discolored  water  where  long 
weeds  grow  from  a  bottom  of  deep  mud,  are  yellow 


262  DUCK-SHOOTING. 

in  color,  have  a  large  head,  and  a  yellow  iris  to  the 
eye.  The  lake  fish,  which  prefer  the  clearer  element 
near  rocky  shoals,  have  a  small  head  and  red- 
dish eye,  are  dark-sided  and  vigorous,  have  a  large 
forked  tail,  and  are  infinitely  preferable  on  the  table. 
One  of  our  friends  in  the  other  boat  was  a  practi- 
cal joker,  and  of  a  lively  turn  of  mind.  He  at  first 
amused  himself  by  jerking  the  line  of  his  companion 
who  sat  nearer  the  bow,  to  induce  him  to  think 
it  was  a  bite ;  then  he  landed  all  the  fish  that  were 
taken  on  either  hook ;  and  finally,  having  acciden- 
tally caught  his  hook  into  his  companion's  and  drawn 
it  in  without  the  latter's  knowledge,  he  hung  it  on 
the  gunwale  and  had  the  fishing  to  himself.  As  the 
portion  of  the  line,  or  bight  as  sailors  call  it,  which 
still  towed  overboard  kept  up  the  ordinary  strain, 
his  associate  was  in  great  wonderment  at  his  bad 
luck,  and  did  not  discover  the  reason  till  the  fishing 
was  over.  > 

.  Having  absolutely  filled  our  boats  with  bass  that 
weighed  from  two  to  four  pounds,  and  having  or- 
dered a  good  dinner  at  the  club-house  to  entertain 
some  strangers,  we  returned,  rather  disgusted  with 
such  tame  sport. 

We  caught,  besides  the  bass,  a  few  pickerel  and  a 
small  pike-perch,  lucioperca  Americana  ;  and  found 
the  most  successful  bait  was  a  red  and  tin  spoon, 
with  a  white  feather  on  the  hook.  The  natives  cull 
the  pickerel  a  grass-pike,  and  the  pike-perch  a 
pickerel.  Those  curious  nondescripts — half  fish, 
half  reptile — bill  or  gar-fish,  lepidosteus,  relics  of  an- 


DUCK-SHOOTING.  263 

tediluvian  ages,  were  seen  in  the  water,  but  are  only 
taken  in  the  net. 

The  weather  had  been  clear,  mild,  and  still;  it 
continued  so  for  several  days,  and  as  storm  and 
wind  are  necessary  to  duck-shooting,  our  sport,  al- 
though pleasant,  was  greatly  diminished.  Conse- 
quently we  rose  at  reasonable  hours,  ate  comforta- 
ble breakfasts,  and  smoked  our  pipes  before  we  left 
the  house.  One  morning,  as  I  was  about  departing, 
the  Kentucky  fisherman,  who  had  found  the  weather 
admirable  for  his  sport,  offered  to  bet  ten  of  the 
largest  fish  he  would  catch  against  the  largest  bird 
I  should  shoot,  that  I  would  not  kill  a  dozen  ducks. 
Of  course  I  accepted  the  wager. 

It  was  unpromising  weather,  still  and  warm,  and 
there  was  absolutely  no  flight  either  during  the 
morning  or  evening ;  but  by  chance  two  cormo- 
rants came  close  to  my  stand.  Without  waiting 
to  distinguish  what  they  were  I  fired,  killing  one 
dead,  and  dropping  the  other  some  distance  off  in 
the  open  water.  My  disgust  on  picking  up  the  one 
nearest,  and  observing  the  thick  legs,  ugly  shape, 
and  crooked  yellow  bill,  was  only  diminished  by  the 
recollection  of  my  bet.  I  lost,  failing  in  the  end  to 
bring  home  the  dozen  birds — although  I  shot  more 
than  that  number,  but  was  unable  to  recover  several 
that  fell  in  the  weeds — and  on  my  return,  using  that 
fact  as  an  excuse,  endeavored  to  beg  off.  The  Ken- 
tuckian  was  delighted ;  imagining  from  my  conversa- 
tion that  I  had  shot  a  canvas-back,  and  anticipating  an 
amusing  triumph,  he  insisted  upon  the  letter  of  the  law. 


DUCK-SUOOTJJSG. 


Our  discussion,  as  was  intended  on  my  part,  at- 
tracted the  attention  and  interest  of  all  the  mem- 
bers, and  my  opponent  waited  with  a  victorious  air 
till  I  should  bring,  him  my  largest  bird.  At  last, 
after  much  procrastination,  it  was  produced  amid 
such  shouts  as  rarely  rang  through  the  old  club- 
house. In  vain  did  my  Kentucky  friend  attempt  to 
disclaim  his  acquisition  or  propose  to  waive  his 
rights ;  "  he  would  have  the  bird,  and  he  must  take 
him  ;  it  was  a  remarkably  fine  one  of  the  kind,  and 
a  good  specimen."  At  last  he  burst  forth : 

"  Oh,  get  out  with  your  cormoi'ant ;  take  him 
away;  do,  and  I'll  never  make  another  bet  with 
you  as  long  as  I  live." 

To  this  day,  in  that  section  of  the  West,  a  man 
who  is  too  exacting  occasionally  wins  a  cormorant. 

The  time  that  circumstances  permitted  me  to  de- 
vote to  pleasure  was  drawing  to  a  close,  and  the 
last  morning  that  was  to  be  appropriated  to  the 
ducks  had  arrived,  when,  as  I  was  about  loading 
my  boat,  Henry  stood  before  me,  and  with  great 
earnestness  remarked : 

"  I  am  going  to  shoot  with  you  to-day,  sir." 

If  he  had  said,  "  I  am  going  to  shoot  you,"  he 
could  not  have  spoken  with  more  firmness  and  so- 
lemnity ;  or,  if  he  had  anticipated  the  most  violent 
contradiction,  he  could  not  have  assumed  a  more 
convincing  manner.  The  proposal,  as  it  suggested 
an  augmented  bag  for  my  last  day,  was,  however, 
cordially  welcome ;  and,  as  soon  as  he  was  ready,  I 
inquired  in  an  unconcerned  manner : 


DUCK -SHOOTING.  265 

"  Well,  which  way  shall  we  go  ?  " 

The  effrontery  of  the  question  fairly  took  him 
aback,  and,  pausing  in  apparent  irresolution  as  to 
whether  he  was  not  in  danger  of  being  caught  at 
last,  he  seemed  for  a  moment  half  inclined  to  run 
for  it.  Incoherently  he  commenced  his  usual  re- 
sponse about  not  giving  advice ;  paused,  and  then, 
in  a  sadly  reproachful  tone,  remonstrated  as  fol- 
lows : 

"  You  know  if  I  were  to  give  advice  to  gentle- 
men, and  they  were  to  have  bad  luck,  they  would 
blame  me ;  and  how  can  I  know  all  the  time  where 
the  ducks  are  flying  ?  " 

"But,  Henry,  as  we  are  going  together,  I  must 
certainly  be  told  where  the  place  is  to  be." 

This  appeared  to  surprise  him ;  for,  after  a  mo- 
ment's deliberation,  he  jumped  into  his  boat,  and, 
seizing  his  paddle,  said,  "I  am  going  to  Grassy 
Point,"  and  made  off  as  fast  as  he  could. 

"  Well,  Henry,  I  suppose  I  shall  have  to  go  "with 
you,  instead  of  you  with  me;  but  the  difference  is 
not  very  great." 

He  seemed  confused,  and  in  doubt  whether  he 
had  not  compromised  himself,  and  paddled  with 
such  speed  that  I  could  scarcely  keep  up  with  him. 
Seated  with  his  face  towards  the  bow  of  the  boat, 
his  guns  lying  ready  for  instant  use  in  front  of  him, 
he  plied  his  double  paddle — that  is  to  say,  a  long 
paddle  with  a  blade  at  both  ends,  which  are  dipped 
alternately — with  a  vigor  that  would  have  distanced, 
for  a  short  stretch,  the  most  expert  rower.  Like 
12 


266  DUCK-SHOOTING. 

the  other  natives,  he  preferred  the  double  paddle  to 
the  oars.  While  using  it  he  could  make  an  accu- 
rate course — an  important  consideration  in  the 
intricate  channels;  could  watch  for  a  chance  shot 
ahead  of  him,  or  chase  a  wounded  duck  advanta- 
geously ;  at  a  moderate  speed,  could  travel  a  long 
journey ;  and,  for  a  spurt,  could  surpass  the  same 
boat  propelled  by  oars ;  and  was  not  annoyed  by 
catching  the  blades  in  the  innumerable  weeds.  So 
great  was  the  respect  that  I  acquired  for  the  double 
paddle,  from  his  manner  of  wielding  it,  that  I  there- 
upon resolved  to  have  one  and  learn  to  use  it,  even 
if  I  did  suffer  somewhat  in  the  attempt. 

We  proceeded  in  unbroken  silence,  and,  reaching 
the  point,  located  ourselves  well  upon  it,  not  far 
apart,  and  awaited  the  ducks.  Henry  was  an  ex- 
cellent shot,  and  set  me  an  example  that  I  did  my 
best  to  follow ;  but  as  the  birds  did  not  fly  well,  we 
left  at  the  expiration  of  a  couple  of  hours,  and 
crossed  Mud  Creek  into  the  main  swamp,  called 
Lattimer  Marsh.  On  the  way,  happening  to  pass 
an  old  muskrat  house,  my  curiosity  was  excited, 
and  I  inquired : 

"  Are  there  any  animals  in  that  house  now  ? '' 

"I  don't  know  whether  there  are  any  animals, 
sir ;  there  might  be  some  sort  of  animals,  but  there 
are  not  any  rats." 

"  Where  are  the  rats,  then  ?  " 

"  They  all  disappear  in  summer ;  they  leave  their 
houses,  and  in  the  fall  build  new  ones.  I  can't  tell 
what  becomes  of  them  ;  but  they  have  queer  ways. 


DUCK-SHOOTING.  267 

They  build  a  big  house — a  sort  of  family  house,  as 
I  call  it — where  a  number  of  them  dwell ;  and 
around  it,  about  fifty  rods  off,  smaller  ones,  where 
each  rat  appears  to  feed  or  go  when  he  wants  to  be 
alone.  There  are  generally  two  entrances,  one 
above  and  the  other  under  water,  so  that  when  the 
bay  is  frozen  over  they  can  get  in." 

"  How  do  you  catch  them  ?  " 

"  We  set  spring-traps  of  iron,  but  without  teeth, 
so  as  not  to  hurt  the  skin,  near  their  houses,  and 
where  we  think  they  will  be  apt  to  step  into  them. 
The  time  to  catch  them  is  from  the  1st  of  March  till 
the  10th  of  April." 

"  Can  anybody  trap  them  ?  " 

"Oh  no,  sir;  that  wouldn't  do  at  all;  a  person 
has  to  own  the  land,  or  have  the 'right  to  trap.  The 
land  isn't  worth  much,  though — only  about  a  dollar 
an  acre." 

"  The  Indian  name  of  muskrat  is  said  to  be 
musksquash  ?  " 

"I  don't  know  how  that  is;  but  I  have  heard 
people  call  them  so.  There  are  a  good  many  in  the 
marsh,  and  we  sometimes  make  three  or  four  hun- 
dred dollars  a  year  from  them." 

"  But,  as  the  swamp  fills  up  and  the  land  makes, 
won't  they  disappear  ?  " 

"No,  sir;  the  swamp  isn't  filling  up;  but  the 
land  is  sinking,  or  the  water  rising — either  one  «r 
the  other ;  for  the  swamp  is  growing  larger.  The 
trees  on  the  island  are  being  killed  by  the  water — 
some  are  dead  already ;  and  every  year  more  high 


268  DUCK-SHOOTING. 

land  becomes  meadow,  and  the  meadow  turns  into 
swamp." 

"I  thought  the  Western  lakes  were  growing 
shallow,  and  receding  yearly." 

"Not  here,  sir.  "Why,  that  long  spit  of  reeds 
beyond  Grassy  Point  was  dry  land  once,  so  that 
you  could  drive  a  team  clear  over  to  Squaw  Island ; 
there  were  large  trees  on  it,  but  they  are  all  dead, 
and  the  channel  between  it  and  the  island  is  six 
feet  deep." 

"  All  the  better  for  us  sportsmen.  Have  you  any 
other  valuable  animals  besides  the  rats  ?  " 

"A  few  otter;  but  not  many.  No,  sir;  the 
ducks  are  the  most  valuable  things  we  have." 

"  They  will  soon  be  killed  off." 

"  No,  sir ;  as  there  is  no  shooting  allowed  in  the 
spring  they  are  becoming  more  plentiful.  They  are 
tamer,  too;  and  some  stay  here  all  summer  and 
breed.  It  was  the  spring  shooting,  when  they  were 
poor  and  thin,  that  killed  them  off  or  drove  them 
away." 

"  How  many  birds  can  a  good  shot  average  daily 
the  season  through  ?  " 

"  I  think  I  can  kill  forty  a  day,  but  perhaps  there 
are  some  men  who  can  shoot  better.  But  now,  sir, 
if  you  will  choose  your  stand,  I  will  go  a  little  way 
below." 

I  ensconced  myself  in  a  bunch  of  high  weeds  sur- 
rounded by  a  pond  of  open  water,  and  killed  a  few 
mallards.  The  birds  did  not  fly  well,  however,  and 
we  moved  from  place  to  place  in  the  hope  of  better 


DUCK-SHOOTING.  269 

luck,  and  with  a  restlessness  that  showed  increasing 
dissatisfaction  on  the  part  of  Henry ;  so  that  I  was 
not  surprised  when,  early  in  the  afternoon,  he  told 
me  that  he  must  return  to  the  club-house.  I  re- 
mained for  some  hours  where  ^ie  left  me ;  but  hear- 
ing rapid  shooting  near  the  Gap,  I  poled  my  way 
there  through  a  broad  field  of  lilies,  known  as  the 
Pond  Lily  Channel,  and  there,  to  my  surprise,  found 
Henry. 

Whether  it  was  the  desire  to  be  alone,  for  his 
peculiarity  of  preferring  to  shoot  by  himself  has 
been  mentioned,  or  whether  he  was  tempted  by  a 
favorable  flight  of  birds,  I  never  knew  ;  when  I  ap- 
peared, he  paddled  hastily  away  as  though  ashamed, 
and  made  no  answer  to  my  inquiries  as  to  what 
detained  him,  or  how  they  could  manage  without 
him  at  the  house.  Unceremoniously  occupying  his 
place,  I  completed  the  evening,  and  the  allotted 
hours  of  my  stay,  with  some  excellent  shooting  at 
flocks  of  mallards,  widgeons,  and  blue-bills,  that  pour- 
ed through  the  Gap  in  endless  flights,  till  after  dark. 

Then,  for  the  last  time,  I  rowed  through  the  dark- 
ness towards  the  well-known  point ;  for  the  last  time 
sat  down  at  the  groaning  board  which  our  kind- 
hearted  landlady  had  furnished  so  liberally ;  played 
my  last  game  with  the  euchre-loving  son  of  Kentucky ; 
smoked  a  farewell  pipe  of  Killikinnick  in  the  so- 
ciable circle  around  the  air-tight ;  slept  for  the  last 
time  in  the  comfortable  bed  under  the  hospitable 
roof  of  the  club-house ;  and  next  morning,  having 
seen  my  associates  depart,  each  in  his  little  boat,  and 


270  DUCK-SHOOTING. 

bid  them  all  farewell,  I  set  out,  with  my  birds  pack- 
ed in  ice,  for  the  City  of  New  York.  My  friends 
welcomed  me  and  my  birds  gladly.  Reader,  had 
you  been  my  friend,  you  would  also  have  welcomed 
us  both. 


SUGGESTIONS  TO  SPORTSMEN.  271 


CHAPTER  X. 

SUGGESTIONS  TO   SPORTSMEN. 

THE  word  "sport"  has  been  more  abused,  ill-treated, 
and  misapplied  than  any  other  in  our  language ;  of  a 
high,  pure,  and  noble  signification,  it  has  been 
debased  to  unworthy  objects ;  of  a  restricted  aud 
refined  significance,  it  has  been  extended  to  a  mass 
of  improper  matters ;  from  its  natural  elegant  appro- 
priateness, it  has  been  degraded  to  vulgar  and  dis- 
honest associations. 

The  miserable  wretch  who  lives  on  the  most  con- 
temptible passion  in  human  nature,  and  with  practised 
skill  cheats  those  who  would  cheat  him — winning  by 
the  unfair  rules  of  games,  so-called,  of  chance — or,  with 
less  conscience,  converting  that  chance  into  a  certain- 
ty, calls  himself  a  sporting  man.  The  individual  who, 
having  trained  a  horse  up  to  the  finest  condition  of 
activity  and  endurance,  drives  or  rides  him  under 
lash  and  spur  round  a  course  to  win  a  sum  of  money, 
although  he  may  call  himself  a  sportsman,  is  really 
a  business  man.  The  daring  backwoodsman  of  the 
Far  West,  who  follows  the  fleet  elk  or  timid  deer,  and 
who  attacks  the  formidable  buffalo  or  grizzly  bear, 
is  less  a  sportsman  than  a  mighty  hunter;  the  man 
who  shoots  with  a  view  of  selling  his  game  is  a 
market-gunner ;  and  he  who  kills  that  he  may  eat  is 
a  pot-hunter. 


272  SUGGESTIONS  TO  SPORTSMEN. 

The  sportsman  pursues  his  game  for  pleasure ;  he 
does  not  aspire  to  follow  the  grander  animals  of  the 
chase,  makes  no  profit  of  his  success,  giving  to  his 
friends  more  than  he  retains,  shoots  invariably  upon 
the  wing,  and  never  takes  a  mean  advantage  of  bird 
or  man.  It  is  his  pride  to  kill  what  he  does  kill 
elegantly,  scientifically,  and  mercifully.  Quantity  is 
not  his  ambition  ;  he  never  slays  more  than  he  can 
use ;  he  never  inflicts  an  unnecessary  pang  or  fires 
an  unfair  shot. 

The  man  who,  happening  to  find  birds  plentiful 
in  warm  weather,  and,  after  murdering  all  that  he  can, 
leaves  them  to  spoil,  is  no  more  a  sportsman  than  he 
who  fires  into  a  huddled  bevy  of  quail,  or  who  con- 
siders every  bird  as  representing  so  much  money 
value,  and  to  be  converted  into  it  as  soon  as  possible. 

The  sportsman  is  generous  to  his  associate,  not 
seeking  to  obtain  the  most  shots,  but  giving  away 
the  advantage  in  that  particular,  and  recovering  it 
if  possible  by  superiority  of  aim ;  for  although  to  be 
a  sportsman  a  person  must  naturally  be  an  enthu- 
siast, he  should  never  forget  what  he  owes  to  his 
friend,  and  above  all  what  he  owes  to  himself. 

Boys  and  Germans  need  not  imagine  that  killing 
robins  or  blackbirds  on  trees,  no  matter  how  nu- 
merously, is  sport.  Robins  and  blackbirds,  the 
latter  especially,  if  the  old  song  is  to  be  believed, 
make  dainty  pies,  but  do  not  constitute  an  object  of 
pursuit  to  the  sportsman.  Diminutive  birds  shot 
sitting  are  as  far  beneath  sport  as  gigantic  wild 
animals  shot  standing  or  running  are  above  it.  The 


SUGGESTIONS  TO  SPORTSMEN.  273 

only  objects  of  the  sportsman's  pursuit  are  the  game 
birds ;  not  in  the  confined  sense  used  infold  times  by 
the  English,  when  the  very  prince  of  all — the  wood- 
cock— was  excluded  from  the  list,  but  embracing  every 
bird,  fit  for  the  table,  that  is  habitually  shot  on  the 
wing.  Many  of  these,  perhaps  the  finest,  gamest, 
and  bravest,  are  shot  over  dogs,  where  the  wonderful 
instinct  of  the  animal  aids  the  intelligence  of  the 
human ;  but  whether  followed  by  the  faithful  setter, 
or  lured  to  bobbing  decoy ;  killed  from  points  where, 
prone  in  the  reeds,  the  eager  sportsman,  insensible  to 
cold  or  \*et,  at  the  grey  of  dawn  or  dusk  of  night, 
awaits  his  prey ;  or  from  the  Convenient  blind  which 
the  deluded  birds  approach  without  suspicion,  or 
pursued  with  horse  and  wagon  on  the  open  plain — 
these  all  are  game  birds,  and  he  who  follows  them 
legitimately  is  a  sportsman. 

Wild  birds,  like  the  tame  ones,  are  given  for  man's 
use,  and  the  best  use  that  can  be  made  of  them  is  the 
one  that  will  confer  most  health,  nourishment,  and 
happiness  on  mankind.  Fanatics  imagine  that 
although  birds  may  be  killed,  it  must  be  done  only 
to  furnish  food  ;  as  if  there  was  nothing  beyond  eat- 
ing in  this  world,  and  as  if  contribution  to  health 
were  not  as  essential  as  supplies  to  the  stomach.  The 
two  may  and  should  be  combined ;  a  man  who  is 
hungry  may  kill  that  he  may  be  satisfied,  the  man 
who  is  sickly  may  kill  that  he  may  recover — neither 
may  kill  in  excess ;  and  a  third  may  kill  lest  he 
become  sick,  provided  nothing  is  injured  that  Is  not 
used. 

12* 


274  SUGGESTIONS  TO  SPORTSMEN. 

Death  before  the  muzzle  of  a  gun,  in  the  hands  of 
an  experienced  marksman,  when  the  body  of  the 
charge  striking  the  object  terminates  life  instantly — 
and  even  when,  in  the  hands  of  a  bungler,  the  wounded 
bird  is  not  put  out  of  his  pain  till  he  is  retrieved — is 
far  more  merciful  than  after  capture  in  a  trap,  accom- 
panied with  agonies  of  apprehension  and  perhaps 
days  of  starvation,  till  the  thoughtless  boy  shall 
remember  his  snare  and  awkwardly  end  life.  The 
birds  of  the  air  and  beasts  of  the  field  are  given  for 
man's  use  and  advantage,  whether  domesticated , 
or  wild  as  they  once  all  were  ;  and  if  they  serve  to 
supply  him  with  food  or  healthful  exercise,  and  espe- 
cially if  they  do  both,  they  have  answered  their  pur- 
pose. It  is  certainly  no  more  brutalizing  to  shoot 
them  on  the  wing  or  in  the  open  field,  when  they 
have  a  reasonable  chance  to  escape,  than  to  wring 
their  necks  in  the  barn-yard,  or  knock  them  on  the 
head  with  an  axe. 

To  become  a  sportsman,  the  first  thing  to  acquire 
— provided  nature  has  kindly  furnished  the  pro- 
per groundwork  of  heart  and  body,  without  which 
little  can  be  done — is  the  art  of  shooting.  A  few, 
very  few  men  become,  through  fortuitous  circum- 
stances of  nature  and  practice,  splendid  shots ;  many 
shoot  well,  and  some  cannot  shoot  at  all.  The 
author  of  this  work  has  handled  a  gun  from  his 
twelfth  year,  and  been  out  with  thousands  of  sports- 
men, but  he  never  yet  saw  a  dead  shot — one  who 
can  kill  every  time. 

Crack  ghots,  however,  are  numerous ;  and  include, 


SUGGESTIONS  TO  SPORTSMEN.  275 

according  to  Frank  Forester,  those  who,  in  covert 
and  out  of  covert,  the  season  through,  will  kill  three 
out  of  five  of  the  birds  that  rise  fairly  within  range  ; 
but  in  the  opinion  of  the  author,  the  application 
should  be  extended  to  any  man  who  can  kill  two 
out  of  five  on  an  average.  This  calculation,  how- 
ever, has  no  reference  to  fair  shots  ;  every  bird  that 
rises  within  twenty-five  yards  and  is  seen,  though  it 
be  but  for  an  instant,  and  many  that  rise  at  thirty- 
five  yards,  are  to  be  counted. 

In  our  country  there  is  so  much  covert,  that  the 
man  who  picks  his  birds  and  only  fires  at  open 
chances,  is  a  potterer,  unworthy  even  of  the  com- 
mon-place name  of  gunner ;  he  has  nothing  of  the 
sportsman  and  little  of  the  man  about  him.  Afraid 
to  miss,  anxious  to  boast  of  his  skill,  desirous  of  sur- 
passing his  friends,  he  unites  the  qualities  of  braggart 
and  sneak. 

Be  liberal  in  your  shots ;  do  not  grudge  ammuni- 
tion, nor  dread  the  disgrace  of  a  miss — the  disgrace 
of  eluding  the  trial  is  far  greater ;  and  no  ihan  who 
waits  for  open  shots,  and  acquires  a  hesitating  man- 
ner, will  ever  effect  anything  brilliant.  If  you  miss, 
there  are  always  ple/ity  of  excellent  excuses  at  hand 
— your  foot  slipped,  the  bird  dodged,  a  tree  inter- 
vened ;  or,  you  hit  him  hard,  cut  out  his  feathers, 
or  even  killed  him  stone  dead,  but  he  did  not  fall  at 
once.  If  you  doubt  the  validity  of  these  excuses, 
go  out  with  the  best  shot  you  know,  and  observe 
whether  he  does  not  furnish  you  with  ten  times  the 
number  in  a  week. 


276  SUGGESTIONS  TO  SPORTSMEN. 

Now,  the  author  cannot  shoot,  and  never  could ; 
but  he  manages  to  bring  home  as  many  quail,  wood 
cock,  snipe,  rail,  ruffed  grouse,  and  ducks,  on  the 
average,  as  any  of  his  friends.  He  observes  that 
most  of  them  miss  as  often  as  he  does,  with  no  bet- 
ter excuses,  and  some  far  oftener ;  but  still  he  never, 
to  the  best  of  his  belief,  saw  the  season  during  which 
he  killed — that  is,  bagged — one-half  of  the  birds  he 
shot  at.  Some  professionals,  of  course,  shoot  at  one 
kind  of  game  wonderfully;  the  gunners  of  Long 
Island  Bay  are  astoundingly  accurate  on  wild-fowl, 
but  would  not  kill  one  quail  in  a  week  ;  while  some 
men  who  could  scarcely  touch  a  duck,  handle  their 
guns  splendidly  in  the  thickest  cover.  Professionals, 
however,  usually  yield  the  best  chances  to  their  em- 
ployers, and  may  be  more  skilful  than  they  seem ; 
but  among  amateurs  the  author  claims  a  rank  that 
will  at  least  entitle  him  to  judge  of  others. 

The  majority  of  persons  rarely  consider  how  many 
birds  escape,  without  the  fault  of  the  marksman;  at 
over  thirty  yards  the  best  gun,  especially  when  a 
little  dirty,  will  leave  openings  in  the  charge  where 
a  bird  may  be  hit  with  only  one  shot,  if  at  all. 
Ducks,  the  larger  bay-snipe,  ruffed  grouse,  and, 
above  all,  quail  late  in  the  season,  will  carry  off 
several  shots  —  flying  away  apparently  unhurt,  al- 
though in  the  end  they  may  fall  dead.  If  the  gun 
was  held  perfectly  straight  this  would  happen  less  fre- 
quently;  but  to  so  hold  it  is  almost  impossible,  for  no 
living  man  could  kill,  once  in  a  dozen  times,  a  flying 
bird  with  a  single  ball ;  and  even  then  the  probabi- 


SUGGESTIONS  TO  SPORTSMEN.  277 

lities  are,  that  a  yellow-leg  snipe  shot  at  more  than 
thirty-five  yards  off,  would  once  in  five  times  carry 
away  the  few  pellets  that  may  strike  him ;  and  at 
forty  yards  escape  entirely  untouched.  If  the  reader 
will  select  the  best  target  his  gun  can  make  with  an 
ounce  of  No.  8  shot  at  forty  yards,  and  see  how 
many  spaces  there  are  entirely  vacant  large  enough 
to  contain  a  snipe,  he  will  be  convinced  that  the 
above  statement  is  correct ;  and  at  fifty  yards,  the 
chances  are  three  to  one  against  the  marksman.  Sir 
Francis  Francis,  who  is  a  good  authority  in  Eng- 
land, says,  that  to  kill  one  bird  in  two  shots  is  good 
shooting ;  and  there  the  grounds  are  almost  always 
open,  while  the  reverse  is  the  case  with  us. 

Do  not  be  discouraged,  therefore,  if  the  sun  gets 
in  your  eyes,  your  foot  slips,  the  bird  dodges,  a  few 
floating  feathers  are  the  only  result  of  your  effort, 
or  you  make  a  clean  miss;  others  do  the  same. 
Neither  lose  your  temper  nor  curse  your  luck,  as  by 
so  doing  you  may  excite  your  nerves  and  injure 
your  shooting,  and  cannot  improve  it.  Be  cool, 
never  shoot  without  an  attempt  at  aim,  if  it  is  only 
where  the  bird  disappeared;  take  your  disappoint- 
ments pleasantly,  strive  to  do  your  best,  and  you 
will  improve. 

Many  ducks  fly  at  least  ninety  miles  an  hour ; 
that  is,  twenty-six  hundred  yards  a  minute,  or  forty- 
four  yards  a  second  ;  if,  therefore,  a  duck  starts  at 
your  feet  with  that  velocity,  and  you  require  a 
second  to  cover  him,  he  will  be  out  of  range ;  or 
if  he  is  flying  across,  and  you  dwell  one  forty-fourth 


278  SUGGESTIONS  TO  SPORTSMEN. 

part  of  a  second  on  your  aim,  you  will  miss  him.  A 
quail,  late  in  the  season,  flies  as  fast  as  this,  and  rises 
with  a  rapidity  equal  to  his  flight.  He  is  often  found  in 
coverts,  dodges  and  twists  with  remarkable  skill  and 
judgment,  frequently  flies  off  in  a  direct  line  behind 
the  thickest  bush,  and  requires  the  perfection  of 
train"hig  to  bring  down  with  certainty.  These  are 
difficulties  that  patience  alone  can  overcome ;  for  if 
shooting  were  simple,  there  would  be  no  art  or  pleas- 
ure in  it. 

All  books  on  sporting  tell  you  to  fire  ahead  of 
cross  shots,  and  in  this  they  are  right ;  but  the  rea- 
son they  give  is,  that  time  is  necessary  for  the  shot 
to  reach  the  object — in  this  they  are  wrong ;  shot 
moves  infinitely  faster  than  the  bird,  and  for  prac- 
tical purposes,  reaches  its  mark  instantaneously. 
Human  nerves  and  muscles,  however,  are  imperfect, 
and  it  requires  an  instant,  an  important  one,  to  dis- 
charge the  gun  after  the  aim  is  taken.  The  result, 
therefore,  is  the  same,  and  you  must  endeavor  to 
shoot  ahead  of  the  bird ;  and  if  he  is  flying  fast,  far 
ahead  of  him.  If  the  motion  of  the  object  is  follow- 
ed and  the  gun  kept  moving  before  the  discharge, 
some  writers  allege  no  allowance  need  be  made,  but 
it  is  so  difficult  not  to  pause  slightly,  that  it  is  bet- 
ter in  all  cases  to  allow  some  inches. 

To  follow  the  motion  of  a  very  fast-flying  bird,  is 
almost,  if  not  quite  impossible,  and  the  attempt  to 
do  so  at  all,  is  apt  to  create  a  popping  habit.  When 
a  broad-bill,  driving  before  a  strong  northwester, 
darts  past,  the  best  plan  is  to  try  and  fire  many  feet, 


SUGGESTIONS  TO   SPORTSMEN.  279 

even  ten  or  fifteen,  ahead  of  him ;  and  then  you  will 
rarely  succeed  in  discharging  your  piece  before  he  is 
abreast  of  the  muzzle,  and  frequently  will  lag  behind 
him.  The  aim  must  be  taken  on  the  line  of  flight, 
and  a  little  attention  will  convince  you  that  the  bird 
is  up  with  the  sight  ere  the  trigger  is  fairly  pulled. 
A  knowledge  of  this  principle,  and  an  ability  to 
practise  it,  may  be  said  to  be  the  art  of  duck-shoot- 
ing ;  as  in  that  there  are  a  vast  majority  of  cross 
shots,  and  the  birds  fly  rapidly. 

There  is  an  erroneous  idea  that  the  eye  must  be 
lowered  close  down  to  the  breech,  in  order  to  have 
a  correct  aim ;  but,  while  it  is  apparent  if  the  neck  is 
not  bent  at  all  there  can  be  no  aim,  a  slight  inaccuracy 
will  not  only  make  no  difference,  but  will  give  an 
advantage  by  throwing  the  shot  high.  It  will  be 
perceived,  on  fastening  the  gun  in  an  immovable 
position,  that  the  eye  may  be  moved  from  near  one 
hammer  to  the  other,  and  the  aim  altered  but  a  few 
inches,  on  an  object  thirty  yards  distant — an  inac- 
curacy, considering  the  spread  of  shot,  which  is 
utterly  unimportant. 

So  also,  although  by  the  attraction  of  gravitation 
the  charge  falls  somewhat,  the  deflection  is  too  in- 
considerable to  merit  attention. 

After  watching  himself  carefully,  reading  what 
the  best  authors  have  written,  and  comparing  ex- 
periences with  his  friends,  the  author  has  concluded 
that  experienced  sportsmen  miss  from  hesitation  in 
pulling  the  trigger,  dwelling  on  the  aim,  and  nerv- 
ously shrinking  from  the  recoil.  The  first  fault 


280  SUGGESTIONS  TO  .SPORTSMEN. 

arises  from  some  temporary  or  permanent  con- 
dition of  mind  or  body,  the  second  from  anxiety 
to  make  assurance  doubly  sure,  and  the  last  from 
habit. 

If  a  man  is  naturally  slow  he  can  never  shoot  fast- 
flying  birds,  but  if  his  fingers  are  stiff  from  cold  he 
can  warm  them.  A  resolution  to  fire  boldly,  and  not 
to  dread  missing,  will  cure  the  over-anxiety  that 
destroys  its  own  intent,  but  to  meet  the  recoil  with- 
out giving  to  it,  or  pushing  against  it,  which  is  the 
more  common  mistake,  is  often  extremely  difficult. 
This  unfortunate  habit,  occurring  at  the  moment  of 
highest  excitement  amid  the  noise  and  smoke,  is 
rarely  noticed  by  the  guilty  party,  and  some  will  at 
first  stoutly  deny  its  existence. 

To  mind  the  recoil  of  a  gun  seems  pusillanimous, 
and  few  can  believe,  till  assured  by  actual  experi- 
ment, that  it  equals  sixty  or  seventy  pounds,  and 
will  crush  the  bones  of  the  body  if  immovably  fixed. 
Let  the  reader  observe  the  next  time  that  his  gun  is 
unwittingly  left  at  half-cock,  how  far  he  will  pull  it 
out  of  aim,  and  how  he  will  push  against  it,  when  at- 
tempting to  discharge  it  at  game.  An  acquaintance 
of  the  writer,  who  would  scout  the  idea  of  being 
affected  by  the  recoil  of  his  gun,  and  indeed  would 
have  sworn  "  it  did  not  kick  a  bit,"  was  once  chas- 
ing a  diver  on  a  placid,  sluggish  stream,  in  a  dug-out. 
When  the  bird  rose  close  to  the  boat,  the  sportsman 
was  standing  erect,  poising  himself  with  care  in  the 
unsteady  craft,  but  as  he  pulled  the  trigger  he  in- 
stinctively pushed  so  hard,  that,  as  the  cap  snapped, 


SUGGESTIONS  TO  SPORTSMEN.  281 

he  lost  his  balance,  upset  the  canoe,  and  pitched  for- 
ward head-foremost  overboard ! 

Probably  one  half  of  the  fair  shots  that  are  missed 
escape  on  account  of  this  unfortunate  nervousness; 
and  it  is  a  habit  that  can  only  be  cured  by  inces- 
sant care  and  unrelaxed  watchfulness.  Anything 
that  affects  the  nerves,  as  smoking  or  drinking,  in- 
creases the  difficulty,  and  the  sudden  flushing  of  a 
bird  will  cause  it.  Unhappily  it  is  apt  to  be  most 
prevalent  when  the  shooting  is  good  and  the  sports- 
man excited,  thus  ruining  many  of  his  best  days. 
With  heavy  loads,  or  what  is  known  as  a  kicking 
gun,  the  error  will  be  aggravated;  and  most  per- 
sons have  no  idea  of  the  proper  proportions  of 
powder  and  shot,  putting  in  immense  quantities  of 
the  latter  and  sparing  the  former. 

The  true  load  for  a  gun  not  exceeding  eight 
pounds  in  weight,  regardless  of  its  size  or  bore,  is 
one  ounce  and  a  quarter  of  shot  and  three  drachms 
of  the  strongest  powder,  or  three  and  a  half  drachms 
of  common  powder.  The  same  proportion  should 
be  retained  if  the  gun  is  heavier  or  the  charge  in- 
creased. Where  more  shot  is  used  power  is  lost 
and  recoil  aggravated;  and  if  the  powder  is  not 
augmented  one  ounce  of  shot  will  do  better  execution 
than  two. 

Many  persons  who  have  ascertained  this  fact  and 
practise  upon  it,  will  inform  you  that  they  drive 
their  shot  through  the  birds,  and  consequently  kill 
them  instantly.  This  is  a  mistake ;  small  shot  are 
rarely,  if  ever,  driven  through  a  bird ;  but  where 


282  SUGGESTIONS  TO  SPORTSMEN. 

the  force  is  increased  the  blow  is  much  harder,  and 
stuns.  It  is  the  velocity  rather  than  the  size  or 
number  of  the  shot  that  tells.  A  soldier  in  battle 
was  struck  on  the  belt-plate  by  a  spent  minie  bullet 
not  a  half  inch  in  diameter,  and  he  described  him- 
self as  feeling  that  he  had  been  torn  to  pieces,  and 
that  a  cannon-ball  had  gone  directly  through  his 
body. 

The  size  of  the  shot  is  to  be  proportioned  to  the 
size  of  the  bird — weight,  of  course,  being  an  ele- 
ment of  power  and  telling  on  each  individual  pellet 
— but  the  more  the  aggregate  amount  can  be  re- 
duced the  less  the  recoil.  Six  drachms  of  powder 
and  one  ounce  of  shot,  will  not  occasion  as  much  re- 
coil as  three  drachms  of  powder  and  an  ounce  and  a 
half  of  shot. 

The  gun  should  always  be  held  firmly  to  the 
shoulder,  and  the  shoulder  never  rested  against 
a  solid  substance ;  indeed,  the  collar-bone  may  be 
broken  by  simply  firing  directly  upwards.  There- 
fore, never  fire  in  the  air  while  lying  on  your  back 
upon  the  ground,  and  be  careful  when  shooting  at 
ducks  from  a  boat  not  to  support  yourself  upon  the 
latter. 

If  the  reader  still  doubts  the  universally  disas- 
trous effects  of  cringing  at  the  moment  of  discharge, 
let  him  have  an  assistant  to  load  the  gun  out  of 
sight,  who  without  his  knowledge  shall  vary  the 
load,  and  occasionally  put  in  none  at  all.  Then  let 
the  reader  fire  at  a  mark,  and  in  spite  of  the  efforts 
which  he  will  naturally  make,  he  will  find  when 


SUGGESTIONS  TO  SPORTSMEN.  283 

there  is  no  load,  and  consequently  nothing  to  dis- 
tract his  attention,  that  he  does  shrink,  and  pull  the 
muzzle  somewhat  off  the  object. 

This  book  is  not  written  for  beginners ;  there  are 
plenty  of  works  with  every  variety  of  instruction 
in  them,  and  the  reader  is  supposed  to  have  read 
them,  digested  their  contents,  acquired  a  knowledge 
of  the  gun,  and  some  skill  in  its  use,  and  to  have 
been  frequently  in  the  field,  but  to  be  perfect 
neither  in  the  use  of  the  gun,  nor  the  practice  of  the 
sportsman's  art.  There  are,  however,  a  few  simple 
suggestions  that  may  prove  valuable,  not  only  in 
acquiring  the  ability  to  shoot,  but  in  restor- 
ing it  where,  from  want  of  practice,  it  has  dimi- 
nished. 

The  sportsman  must  be  as  quick  and  ready  in 
handling  his  gun  as  the  juggler  in  handling  his 
tools ;  he  must  be  able  to  bring  it  to  his  shoulder 
and  point  the  muzzle  at  a  stationary  mark  simul- 
taneously, to  aim  in  every  direction  with  equal 
facility,  and  to  follow  a  moving  object  accurately. 
This  is  merely  mechanical,  and  is  acquired,  like 
every  other  mechanical  art,  by  dint  of  practice. 

Some  writers  recommend  firing  at  turnips  tossed 
through  the  air  by  an  assistant,  and  this  is  well; 
but  an  equally  advantageous  plan  is  to  throw  a  soft 
ball  about  a  room  and  take  aim  at  it,  pulling  the 
trigger  every  time,  with  an  unloaded  and  uncocked 
gun.  The  sole,  but  important,  recommendation  of 
this  idea  is,  that  it  may  be  carried  out  anywhere 
and  at  all  seasons,  and  if  the  reader  will  try  it  daily 


284  SUGGESTIONS  TO  SPORTSMEN. 

for  a  week  before  going  into  the  field,  he  will  per- 
ceive the  effects. 

So  also,  to  acquire  quickness :  if  the  reader  will 
throw  two  small  objects — pennies,  or  the  like — into 
the  air,  and  endeavor  to  aim  at  or  hit  them  both 
before  they  reach  the  ground,  he  will  in  a  short  time 
obtain  such  facility  that  he  will  be  able  to  lay  down 
his  gun,  and  after  throwing  the  pennies,  to  pick  it 
up  and  hit  them  both  twice  out  of  three  times. 

To  shoot  at  pigeons  from  a  trap,  robins  from 
trees,  and  even  swallows  on  the  wing,  although  the 
practice  differs  greatly  from  shooting  at  game,  is 
useful  to  a  certain  extent ;  but  steady  and  long-con- 
tinued practice  of  this  nature  is  injurious  rather 
than  beneficial.  It  is  somewhat  notorious  that  the 
celebrated  pigeon-shots  are  generally  poor  marks- 
men in  the  field,  and  entirely  at  a  loss  in  thick 
covert. 

After  all,  however,  the  best  place  to  learn  the  use 
of  the  gun,  while  it  is  by  all  odds  the  pleasantest,  is 
in  the  field ;  where,  amid  the  thousand  beauties  of 
nature,  and  under  the  excitement  of  the  presence  of 
game,  the  sportsman  by  slow  degrees  overcomes 
the  innumerable  difficulties  that  surround  the  art 
of  shooting  flying. 

Closely  allied  to  skill  in  killing  the  right  object  is 
the  ability  to  avoid  killing  the  wrong  one.  A  gun  is 
extremely  dangerous — how  much  so  is  known  only 
to  those  who  have  handled  it  long ;  in  spite  of  the 
bvest  care  it  will  occasionally  go  off  at  unexpected 
times,  and  in  careless  hands  is  sure,  sooner  or  later, 


SUGGESTIONS  TO   SPORTSMEN.  285 

to  do  terrible  damage.  Every  possible  precaution 
must  be  taken,  vigilance  must  never  be  relaxed,  the 
muzzle  must  under  no  circumstances  point  towards 
the  owner  or  his  companions ;  if  two  men  are  crawl- 
ing through  thick  brush,  the  gun  of  the  first  must 
point  forwards,  and  of  the  last,  backwards ;  the  caps 
should  always  be  removed  when  the  sportsman  gets 
into  a  wagon,  and  when  the  loaded  weapon  is  left 
in  a  house  the  hammers  ought  never  to  be  left 
down  on  the  caps ;  but,  above  all,  no  man  who  is 
not  hi  search  of  an  early  grave  should  pull  a  gun 
towards  him  by  the  barrels. 

These  rules  are  simple,  and  the  reasons  for  them 
apparent ;  if  the  hammer  is  on  the  cap,  a  blow  on  it, 
or  its  catching  on  a  twig,  will  discharge  the  load ; 
if  a  horse  runs  away,  as  horses  have  an  unpleasant 
habit  of  doing,  even  if  the  lock  is  at  half-cock,  the 
tumbler  may  be  broken  down ;  if  a  gun  is  capped  in 
a  house,  every  one  but  an  idiot  knows  it  is  loaded ; 
and  if  it  is  drawn  towards  a  person — as  will  be 
often  done  by  thoughtless  people  in  taking  it  from 
a  wagon  or  lifting  it  from  a  boat  or  from  the  ground 
— it  is  almost  sure  to  go  off. 

In  the  field  it  should  be  carried  either  at  whole  or 
half-cock;  authorities  differ  as  to  which  of  these 
two  modes  is  the  safer.  If  the  hammer  is  at  full 
cock,  a  touch  on  the  trigger  will  set  it  loose ;  if  it  is 
at  half-cock,  in  the  excitement  of  cocking  it  when  a 
bird  rises  unexpectedly,  it  will  often  slip  uninten- 
tionally. I  prefer  the  former  method,  believing 
that  the  sense  of  danger  makes  the  person  more 


286  SUGGESTIONS  TO  SPORTSMEN. 

careful,  and  that  the  risk  of  a  twig's  touching  the 
trigger  in  spite  of  the  trigger-guard  is  very  slight, 
while  the  weapon  is  ready  for  instant  use,  and  only 
has  to  be  pointed  at  the  object  and  discharged. 
Moreover,  I  have  twice  seen  a  gun  that  was  at  half- 
cock  discharged  when  the  sportsman  was  in  the  act 
of  cocking  it  hastily,  and  twice  when  putting  it 
back  to  half-cock ;  but  the  piece  should  never  for  a 
moment  be  trusted  out  of  the  sportsman's  hands 
without  his  first  putting  it  at  half-cock ;  nor  should 
he  ever  cross  a  fence  without  the  same  precaution. 
In  changing  from  whole  to  half-cock,  pass  the  ham- 
mer below  the  first  notch,  so  as  to  hear  a  distinct 
click  when  it  is  drawn  back. 

Countrymen  when  about  to  walk  a  log  over  a 
rapid  stream,  will  usually  carefully  put  the  hammers 
down  on  the  caps,  and  placing  the  butt  on  the  log, 
steady  themselves  by  it,  thus  insuring  their  destruc- 
tion if  they  should  happen  to  slip ;  and  if  they  stand 
on  a  fence  they  do  the  same  thing,  and  rest  the 
stock  on  the  upper  rail.  Not  only  should  such  fol- 
lies be  avoided,  but  the  gun  should  never  be  leaned 
against  a  tree,  as  thoughtless  people  are  apt  to  do 
when  they  stop  at  a  spring  to  drink,  and  never 
placed  where  it  can  slip  or  roll. 

When  you  have  fired  and  desire  to  reload,  put  the 
hammer  of  the  loaded  barrel  at  half-cock,  and  if  the 
right  barrel  has  been  discharged,  set  down  the  butt 
so  that  the  hammers  are  towards  you,  and  the  con- 
trary way  if  the  left  barrel  is  to  be  loaded ;  in  this 
manner  you  will  avoid  bringing  your  hand  over  the 


SUGGESTIONS  TO  SPORTSMEN.  287 

-,...- 

loaded  barrel,  and  in  case  the  other  charge  should 
go  off  you  would  lose  the  end  of  your  thumb,  perhaps, 
but  save  most  of  your  fingers. 

From  the  foregoing  rules,  which  apply  mainly  to 
muzzle-loaders,  it  will  be  seen  how  much  safer  are 
breech-loaders ;  with  them  the  entire  charge  can  be 
withdrawn  on  entering  a  house  or  getting  into  a 
wagon,  and  there  is  absolutely  no  danger  to  fingers 
or  thumb  in  the  process  of  loading.  And  in  carrying 
the  weapon  on  long  tramps  in  the  woods,  where  it 
is  frequently  removed  from  boat  to  shoulder,  from 
shoulder  to  boat,  and  from  wagon  to  case,  and  when 
it  has  to  be  ready  at  any  instant,  with  the  muzzle- 
loader  the  only  possible  precaution  is  to  leave  the 
nipples  without  caps,  which  are  to  be  carried  in  the 
vest  pocket,  and  must  be  removed  after  every  vain 
alarm;  while  with  the  breech-loader,  the  charge 
itself  is  not  inserted  till  needed. 

With  these  few  suggestions,  which  are  applicable 
not  merely  to  the  kinds  of  sport  treated  of  in  this 
volume,  but  to  every  species  of  shooting,  we  leave 
the  young  sportsman  to  his  own  resources  and  to  the 
knowledge  that  he  will  acquire  in  the  field,  hoping 
that  he  may  find  something  in  them  that  will  aid  him 
to  kill  reasonably  often  the  game  he  points  at,  and 
to  avoid  the  dreadful  misfortune  of  injuring  a  friend 
or  companion. 


288  TRAP-SHOOTING. 

CHAPTER  XI. 

TRAP-SHOOTING. 

•THE  amusement  of  trap-shooting  is  pursued  in  the 
Northern  States,  on  the  margins  of  the  western 
lakes — as  some  eminent  marksmen  of  Buffalo  and 
Niagara  Falls  can  testify — and  on  the  sea-coast — as 
some  famous  matches  at  Islip  would  prove.  It  is  not 
a  field  sport ;  it  is  hardly  a  sport  at  all ;  and  a  pigeon 
is  not,  properly  speaking,  a  game-bird,  in  spite  of  the 
instances  quoted.  If  this  work  were  to  be  confined 
strictly  to  its  professed  objects,  this  chapter  would 
have  to  be  excluded  ;  but  for  the  reason  that  it  belongs 
nowhere  else,  that  an  account  of  this  peculiar  style 
of  shooting  will  be  useful  to  many  sportsmen,  and 
that  no  published  book  contains  any  information  on 
the  subject,  the  writer  has  presumed  to  collate  the 
experience  of  his  friends  rather  than  of  himself — for 
he  does  not  pretend  to  much  skill  in  this  particular 
art — and  to  offer  it  to  the  sporting  public. 

Trap-shooting,  although  quite  an  ungrammatical 
expression,  is  perfectly  understood  as  a  sporting 
term,  having  acquired  a  conventional  meaning;  it 
signifies  neither  shoo1  ing  at  a  trap,  which  its  con- 
struction implies,  nor  shooting  out  of  a  trap,  but 
shooting  at  a  bird — generally  a  pigeon — released  from 
a  trap.  Although  not  a  highly  scientific  sport,  and 
somewhat  open  to  the  charge  of  cruelty,  it  has  its 
devotees ;  and  certainly,  amid  a  crowd  of  spectators 


TRAP-SHOOTING.  289 

and  competitors,  to  take  the  palm  and  carry  off  the 
prize  is  no  mean  glory.  The  birds  probably  suffer  as 
little,  cut  down  with  the  whistling  charge  of  fine  shot 
while  on  the  wing,  and  with  a  chance  for  life,  as 
though  their  necks  were  remorselessly  wrung  by  the 
poulterer ;  and  in  either  case  they  find  their  way  to 
market  and  furnish  food  for  the  people. 

The  most  serious  objection  to  this  sport  is,  that  the 
wild  pigeons  have  to  be  taken  from  their  nests  in 
the  spring,  and  thus,  either  prevented  laying  their 
eggs,  or  hatching  their  broods.  As  the  preservation 
and  increase  of  all  species  of  wild  birds,  animals,  and 
fishes,  and  the  prevention  of  their  destruction  at 
unseasonable  times,  are  the  first  duties  of  a  sports- 
man, the  killing  of  pigeons  ere  they  have  raised  their 
broods  is  on  a  par  with  shooting  ducks  and  snipe  in 
spring,  and  is  excusable  only  because  the  feeling  of 
the  people  does  not  require  the  enactment  of  tho- 
roughly appropriate  laws  ;  and  while  it  prevents  the 
protection  of  the  latter,  makes  the  preservation  of 
the  former — which  is  a  comparatively  valueless 
bird — scarcely  worth  the  trouble. 

Under  these  circumstances,  and  in  order  to  fill  up 
a  season  of  the  year  when  there  is  no  other  legitimate 
spoiling  excitement,  trap-shooting  has  grown  in 
public  estimation,  and  being  adopted  by  a  large  class 
of  sportsmen,  has  led  to  the  employment  of  a  nume- 
rous body  of  followers,  skilled  in  the  secrets  of  trap- 
ping and  preparing  birds  so  that  they  may  be  pre- 
sented to  the  shooter  in  the  best  possible  condition. 

This  class  of  underlings,  who  attend  to  the  many 
13 


290  TRAP-SHOOTING. 

wants  of  the  sportsman,  whether  in  the  field  or  at  the 
trap ;  who  break  his  dogs,  carry  his  bag,  or  tend  his 
birds  ;  with  their  quaint  wisdom  and  innate  honesty, 
— deserve  more  consideration  than  they  receive :  but 
above  all,  in  trap-shooting,  are  they  a  necessity, 
and  is  their  uprightness  above  price?  An  unfair 
trapper  may  give  one  man  strong  birds,  and  another 
weak ;  may  pull  their  wing-feathers,  or  keep  some 
without  water  or  food,  and  thus  almost  decide  a 
contest  beforehand. 

Their  labor  is  excessive ;  they  have  first  to  catch 
the  birds,  and  attend  to  their  arrival  at  the  place  of 
shooting  early  enough  to  meet  the  sportsmen  ;  and 
then  they  have  to  run  eighteen  or  twenty-one  yards 
over  the  uneven  and  often  muddy  ground  for  every 
bird  they  place  in  the  trap.  Hence,  in  selecting  a 
place  to  shoot  pigeons,  it  is  desirable,  by  avoid- 
ing sand  or  soft  earth,  to  save  the  trapper ;  under 
the  most  favorable  circumstance,  he  will  soon  be 
exhausted,  and  with  every  advantage,  cannot  trap 
more  than  five  hundred  birds  in  a  day.  Two  birds 
are  released,  either  together  or  successively,  ere  the 
traps  are  replenished ;  the  trapper,  carrying  two 
birds,  runs  to  the  traps,  sets  one  after  the  other,  and 
returns  also  on  the  run — for  the  marksman  by  this 
time  is  at  the  score — and  selects  two  more  birds 
from  the  box ;  this  labor,  continued  during  the  noon- 
tide hours  of  a  blazing  day,  is  not  over -remunerated 
by  liberal  pay  and  the  surplus  birds,  that,  unless 
claimed  by  the  shooter,  fall  by  common  consent  to 
the  share  of  his  hard-working  assistant. 


TRAP-SHOOTING.  291 

The  most  rapid  way  is  to  use  five  traps,  in  single- 
bird  shooting,  and  employ  five  boys — with  a  relay 
of  five  others  when  the  first  are  exhausted— to  set 
them  ;  boys  are  naturally  more  active  than  men,  and 
are  buoyed  up  by  an  excitement  that  the  latter  do 
not  feel.  The  five  birds  are  shot  at  before  the  traps 
are  refilled ;  and  by  the  time  the  last  bird  is  released 
the  boys  stand  armed  with  a  fresh  one  apiece,  ready 
to  reset  the  traps  in  a  moment.  In  this  mode,  with 
good  luck  in  not  having  too  many  birds  that  have 
to  be  retrieved,  and  with  regularity,  fifteen  hundred 
birds  may  be  shot  at  in  ten  hours. 

The  difficulty  of  obtaining  pigeons  in  our  seaboard 
cities  has  been  so  great  of  late  years,  as  advancing 
civilization  has  reduced  the  number,  and  driven 
westward  the  migratory  hosts  which  once  visited 
the  Eastern  States,  that  not  only  has  the  expense 
enormously  increased,  but  the  practice  of  trap-shoot- 
ing has  diminished.  The  ordinary  price  along  the 
Atlantic  coast  is  from  twenty  to  thirty  dollars  a 
hundred,  and  the  supply  is  so  small,  that  the  collec- 
tion of  any  considerable  number,  even  at  that  rate, 
is  extremely  difficult. 

As  skill  in  the  act  of  shooting  birds  released  from 
a  trap,  where  the  sportsman  stands  prepared,  gun  in 
hand  and  nerves  disturbed,  if  at  all,  only  by  the 
presence  of  spectators,  does  not  imply  ability  to 
acquit  oneself  well  in  the  field,  and  tends  but  little 
to  that  end ;  so  it  is  pursued  not  for  improvement 
so  much  as  for  temporary  excitement  during  the  dull 
months  of  the  year.  Pigeons  nest  in  June,  a  season 


292  TRAP-SHOOTING. 

during  which  there  is  absolutely  no  legitimate  sport 
with  the  gun  whatever ;  the  woodcock  are  not  yet 
grown,  the  snipe  have  passed  to  their  northern 
homes,  and  the  sportsman  fills  the  vacancy  with  the 
emulation  of  surpassing  his  associates  at  trap-shoot- 
ing. The  attempt  is  exciting,  and  the  art  peculiar, 
requiring  great  self-command  and  utter  disregard  of 
the  jeers,  praises,  or  contemptuous  laughter  of  a 
thousand  spectators. 

Tame  pigeons  are  not  so  well  adapted  to  the  pur- 
pose as  their  wild  brethren,  having  a  quiet  way  of 
ignoring  the  object  for  which  they  are  produced, 
and  walking  towards  the  stand,  or  picking  up  scraps 
of  food  the  moment  they  are  released,  that  is  try- 
ing to  the  expectant  shooter.  Then  they  are  strong 
of  wing  and  well  feathered,  so  that  the  shot  must  be 
driven  hard  to  penetrate  to  a  vital  spot ;  and  they 
fly  as  often  towards  the  crowd  assembled  behind  the 
score  as  in  the  contrary  direction.  Their  flight  is 
uneven,  and  frequently,  after  rising  a  few  feet,  they 
will  suddenly  alight,  or  pitch  down  part  of  the  way. 
The  best  shots,  therefore,  prefer  the  wild  birds,  that 
go  off  with  a  rush  the  moment  the  trap  is  pulled — 
for,  although  they  fly  faster,  they  are  more  certain  in 
their  motions.  Tame  birds  are  collected  in  the 
neighborhood  of  towns  and  through  the  country,  but 
rarely  in  large  numbers ;  and  being  accustomed  to 
the  presence  of  man,  require  little  special  care. 
Wild  birds  are  brought  from  long  distances,  fre- 
quently from  the  confines  of  Wisconsin,  and  in 
consequence  of  their  timid,  excitable  nature,  re- 


TRAP-SHOOTING.  293 

quire  continued  care.  They  are  captured  on  their 
nests,  where  they  congregate  in  millions  ;  and  being 
cooped  in  shallow  boxes  made  of  slats,  only  deep 
enough  to  allow  them  to  move,  but  not  to  use 
their  wings  or  bruise  themselves,  are  transported 
as  rapidly  and  tenderly  as  possible  to  their  destina- 
tion. They  must  invariably  be  accompanied  by  a 
careful  person  to  wait  on  them,  and  supply  food  and 
water,  of  the  latter  of  which  they  require  large 
quantities,  and  they  must  be  moved  as  rarely  and 
carefully  as  possible. 

The  moment  they  arrive,  they  should  be  placed 
in  a  prepared  room ;  and  each  one,  as  he  is  taken 
put,  must  have  his  head  plunged  in  water,  and  be 
allowed  to  drink  freely.  The  ceiling  of  their  apart- 
ment should  be  low,  or  there  will  be  difficulty  in 
catching  them,  and  the  windows  may  be  slatted ; 
a  sufficient  number  of  perches  to  accommodate  them 
readily  should  be  set  up,  and  they  must  be  dis- 
turbed as  little  as  possible.  Food  and  water  should 
be  introduced  three  times  a  day,  either  very  quietly, 
or  after  the  apartment  has  been  darkened  by  closing 
the  shutters.  In  spite  of  the  best  of  care,  about  ten 
per  cent,  will  perish  on  the  journey,  or  in  conse- 
quence of  it. 

Having  been  retained  in  the  room  two  or  three 
days,  they  will  be  in  their  best  condition,  reco- 
vered from  their  exposure,  and  not  yet  injured  by 
their  confinement ;  and  may  then  be  caught,  re- 
placed hi  the  boxes,  and  carried  to  the  shooting- 
ground.  It  is  a  common  practice  to  pull  out  some 


294  TRAP-SHOOTING. 

of  the  smaller  feathers  under  the  tail,  or  to  stick  a 
pin  in  the  gristle  of  the  rump,  with  a  view  of  mak- 
ing them  fly  belter ;  as  a  bird  that  remains  in  the 
trap,  when  a  ground-trap  is  used,  after  it  is  pulled, 
and  refuses  to  rise,  baulks  the  shooter,  and  any  pain 
inflicted  on  them  just  as  they  are  being  used  will 
make  them  wild  and  anxious  to  escape. 

There  are  three  kinds  of  traps  used,  called  the 
ground,  spring,  and  plunge  traps ;  the  former  is  so 
arranged  that  when  the  string  is  drawn,  the  trap, 
which  is  composed  of  tin  plates,  falls  over  and  lies 
flat  on  the  ground ;  while  the  others,  through  the 
instrumentality  of  a  spring,  or  by  a  vigorous  jerk  on 
the  line,  throw  the  birds  into  the  air.  The  ground- 
traps  are  considered  by  many  the  most  scientific, 
leaving  the  shooter  in  doubt  as  to  the  direction  of 
the  bird's  flight,  and  preventing  his  shooting  on  the 
calculation  which  can  be  made  very  accurately  with 
a  spring-trap — that  the  bird  will  invariably  be 
thrown  to  a  certain  place,  and  may  be  killed  there, 
nominally  on  the  wing,  but  before  he  has  really 
got  under  weigh  ;  but  in  the  Wesfr  the  plunge-traps 
are  generally  preferred,  as  they  insure  the  bird's 
flying  at  once. 

The  traps  are  also  spoken  of  as  "  H  and  T,"  or 
"  head  and  tail "  traps,  and  are  usually  marked  with 
a  large  H  or  T;  but  this  means  merely  that  the 
shooter  may  select  the  trap  to  be  pulled  by  the  toss, 
in  case  the  terms  of  the  contest  permit  it.  The 
sportsmanlike  mode,  however,  as  claimed  by  Eastern 
sportsmen,  is  to  allow  the  trapper,  provided  he  can 


TRAP-SHOOTING.  295 

be  perfectly  relied  upon,  to  pull  any  trap  he  may 
choose,  without  notice  to  the  shooter. 

Four  or  five  traps  are  generally  used,  placed  seve- 
ral feet  apart,  at  twenty-one  yards  from  the  score 
in  single-bird  shooting,  and  at  eighteen  yards  in 
double-bird  shooting.  In  double-bird  shooting  the 
two  birds  are  not  placed  in  the  same  trap,  but 
two  traps  are  pulled  at  the  same  time.  In  single- 
bird  shooting  only  one  barrel  can  be  discharged  at 
one  bird ;  and  to  save  time,  the  shooter  should  fire 
at  two  birds,  one  after  the  other,  before  he  leaves 
the  score,  being  thus  compelled  to  use  both  barrels 
of  his  gun. 

A  bird,  to  be  credited  as  killed,  must  be  retrieved 
within  the  bounds — that  is  to  say,  must  be  gathered 
with  the  hands  alone ;  and  it  was  formerly  permitted 
to  take  him  not  only  on  the  ground  or  in  the  air, 
but  from  a  tree,  and  the  shooter  might  walk  round 
a  running  bird  and  drive  him  towards  the  trap ;  but 
more  modern  rules  require  that  the  bird  shall  fall,  and 
shall  be  proceeded  to  straight  from  the  score.  The 
bounds  are  eighty  yards  radius  from  the  centre  of  the 
traps  in  single-bird  shooting,  and  one  hundred  yards 
in  double-bird  shooting.  The  distance  should  be 
measured  with  a  rope,  and  marked  by  small  flags 
or  painted  stakes  set  up  in  the  ground. 

The  judges  order  the  shooter  to  retrieve  any  bird 
they  think  proper ;  and  in  case  there  is  doubt  whe- 
ther a  bird  was  hit,  although  duly  retrieved,  they 
must  examine  and  decide,  being  occasionally  com- 
pelled to  pick  the  feathers  in  order  to  ascertain. 


296  TRAP-SHOOTING. 

In  case  of  a  missfire,  according  to  the  rules  of  the 
New  York  Club,  if  the  cap  explodes,  the  bird  is 
counted  against  the  shooter,  although  his  gun  may 
be  properly  loaded,  he  being  responsible  for  the 
cleanliness  of  the  gun ;  but  in  case  the  cap  fails  to 
explode,  he  is  allowed  another  bird.  Other  clubs 
only  require  that  the  gun  shall  be  properly  loaded ; 
and  others  score  the  bird  as  missed.  If  in  double- 
bird  shooting  one  bird  only  rises,  it  used  to  be 
counted  to  the  shooter,  and  he  was  allowed  another 
bird  in  place  of  the  one  that  failed  to  fly,  thus  really 
shooting  at  two  single  birds.  This  was  so  mani- 
festly unjust  that  the  rule  has  been  changed  by  the 
State  Association,  and  the  shooter  is  required  to 
shoot  at  a  fresh  brace.  The  sportsman  stands  at 
the  score  and  directs  the  trapper  when  to  pull ;  he 
must  hold  the  butt  of  his  gun  beneath  1m  elbow,  but 
usually  drops  his  head,  and  bends  his  body  into  the 
position  it  would  take  were  the  gun  at  his  shoulder, 
so  that  he  merely  has  to  raise  his  gun  to  his  eye  and 
point  it.  In  double-trap  shooting,  undoubtedly,  the 
marksman  requires  every  advantage  he  can  obtain, 
and  then  will  have  many  birds  pass  beyond  range 
ere  he  can  fire;  but  where  a  single  pigeon  is  pre- 
sented, it  would  be  advisable  to  require  every  con- 
testant to  hold  his  gun  with  the  muzzle  above  his 
head.  Professional  shots  usually  extend  the  arms 
and  assume  an  attitude,  and  gain  an  advantage  that 
would  be  impossible  to  them  in  game-shooting. 

The  weight  or  character  of  gun  and  load  of 


TRAP-SHOOTING.  297 

powder  have  not  heretofore  been  restricted,  al- 
though it  is  unreasonable  to  match  a  light  field-gun, 
loaded  with  three  drachms,  against  a  fourteen-pound 
ducking-gun,  driving  its  charge  of  No.  10  shot  with 
six  drachms  of  powder.  The  load  of  shot  should  not 
be  over  one  ounce  and  a  quarter ;  but  even  with  this 
restriction  the  heavy  guns  will  have  the  advantage, 
being  able  to  send  fine  shot  stronger,  and  have  the 
benefit  of  the  extra  quantity  of  pellets.  The  size  of 
shot  in  light  guns  is  generally  No.  7,  with  three 
and  a  quarter  drachms  of  powder.  The  guns  are 
loaded  in  the  presence  of  a  judge  selected  for  the 
purpose,  and  the  shot  is  poured  into  a  measured 
charger ;  but  with  breech-loaders,  as  the  cartridges 
are  already  prepared,  it  is  customary  to  select  one 
of  the  latter  at  random  and  open  it. 

A  good  shot  will  frequently  kill  twenty  single 
birds  in  succession,  and  some  persons  who  have 
made  this  sport  their  specialty  have  been  known  to 
kill  many  more ;  but  the  majority  of  excellent  sports- 
men will  not  kill  over  nineteen  out  of  twenty.  The 
best  field-shots  are  often  bunglers  at  trap-shoot- 
ing. Where  double  birds  are  shot  at,  it  is  rare  that 
twenty  are  killed  without  a  miss,  and  an  excellent 
average  out  of  ten  double  rises  would  be  seventeen 
birds.  The  second  bird  is  frequently  so  far  off  ere 
he  is  fired  at,  that,  even  if  hit,  he  will  go  out  of 
bounds  and  be  recorded  as  missed,  although  he  falls 
dead.  In  this  shooting  there  is  much  in  accident, 
not  only  as  to  the  bird's  falling  out  of  bounds,  but 
as  to  the  mode  of  flight ;  for  if  both  birds  go  directly 
13* 


298  TBAP-SHOOTING. 

away  from  the  stand,  the  chances  are  against  the 
shooter,  whereas  if  one  approaches,  the  difficulty  of 
killing  is  not  much  greater  than  with  single  birds. 

In  England  a  better  rule  in  shooting  single  birds 
generally  prevails,  by  which  the  rise  is  extended  to 
twenty-five  or  thirty  yards,  but  the  shooter  is  al- 
lowed to  use  both  barrels ;  thus  occasionally  making 
some  brilliant  shots  at  long  distances,  and  proving 
the  qualities,  not  merely  of  the  sportsman,  but  of 
his  weapon.  Firing  a  single  barrel  at  a  pigeon 
within  thirty  yards,  is  dull  sport ;  better  marksman- 
ship is  required  to  stop  him  at  from  thirty-five  to 
forty  with  the  first  barrel,  even  with  the  additional 
chance  with  the  second  at  from  forty  to  fifty. 

No  scattering  gun,  filling  the  air  with  its  cloud 
of  mustard-seed,  will  answer  for  this  work;  the 
closest  and  strongest-shooting  gun  will  have  to  be 
held  so  true  that  the  centre  of  the  charge  will  hit 
the  object,  to  obtain  the  least  chance  with  the  second 
barrel,  or  to  insure  certainty  even  with  the  first. 
Fewer  birds  that  are  fairly  hit  will  go  out  of  bounds, 
as  the  second  barrel  may  complete  the  work  of  the 
first ;  and  the  best  marksman  will  generally  exhibit 
himself  by  the  management  of  this  barrel,  to  use 
which  at  all  will  require  extreme  rapidity  and  accu- 
racy. 

This  fact  has  been  recognised  occasionally  at  con- 
ventions, or  where  the  contests  were  for  honor  and 
not  money,  by  increasing  the  distance  at  which  ties 
are  shot  off.  In  a  large  match  there  are  always 
several  ties,  which  are  shot  off  at  five  birds,  and 


TRAP-SHOOTING.  299 

frequently  not  finished  till  repeated  several  times. 
At  the  New  York  State  Convention  of  1865,  held 
at  Niagara  Falls,  the  parties  tying  one  another  were 
set  back  five  yards  at  every  tie,  and  still  at  thirty-one 
yards  four  birds  out  of  five  were  killed  with  a  single 
barrel — although,  of  course,  at  this  distance  much 
will  depend  upon  the  direction  and  mode  of  flight. 
Success,  even  with  the  use  of  both  barrels,  will  re- 
quire far  more  brilliant  shooting  than  in  the  present 
mode. 

There  has  always  been  great  dispute  among  trap- 
shooters  as  to  the  best  trap.  The  New  York  City 
Club  claims  that  a  bird  released  from  a  ground-trap, 
selecting  his  own  time  to  rise,  and  mode  and  direc- 
tion of  flight,  is  harder  to  kill  than  one  tossed 
heels  over  head  from  a  plunge  or  spring-trap.  But 
our  Western  brethren,  who  are  naturally  more  rapid, 
and  who  have  less  difficulty  in  obtaining  pigeons, 
are  so  annoyed  with  the  waste  of  time  occasioned 
by  a  dilatory  pigeon,  that  they  universally  prefer 
the  plunge-trap. 

Probably  the  mesne  between  these  two  opinions 
is  correct,  or  more  properly  a  combination  of  them 
both ;  a  single  bird  is  undoubtedly  harder  to  lall  at  a 
ground-trap,  whereas  the  plunge-trap  will  free  the 
two  birds  in  double-shooting,  to  go  off  at  the  same 
moment.  So  that  for  these  reasons,  and  to  insure 
skill  at  both,  they  should  be  appropriated  to  these 
offices  respectively.  The  best  Western  shot,  if  not 
the  best  gentleman  shot  in  the  world,  who  has 
killed  bis  eighty-four  out  of  ninety  double  birds, 


300  TRAP-SHOOTING. 

was  terribly  baulked  by  the  ground  trap,  to  which 
he  had  not  been  accustomed,  when  he  first  at- 
tempted to  kill  even  single  birds  from  it.  But  for 
double-shooting,  as  it  is  essential  that  both  birds 
should  fly  together,  the  trap  that  insures  this  is  pre- 
ferable. 

One  of  the  worst  features  of  trap-shooting  is,  that 
it  has  fallen  mainly  into  the  hands  of  professionals ; 
and  although  there  is  no  reason  for  not  pursuing  a 
legitimate  sport  because  blacklegs  enjoy  it  also, 
they  have  introduced  tricks  and  artifices  that  de- 
grade the  entire  amusement.  The  use  of  heavy 
guns  is  one  of  the  mildest  of  these,  for  it  is  mad- 
ness for  the  best  shot  in  the  world  to  match  his 
ordinary  field-gun  against  a  number  six  bore  single- 
barrelled  piece  ;  and  they  will  put  a  clod  of  grass  or 
even  a  dead  bird  in  the  same  trap  with  the  live  one, 
and  if  this  is  a  spring-trap,  the  adversary  will  be 
taken  at  a  disadvantage.  They  deaden  their  own 
birds  by  squeezing  them  under  the  wings,  and  excite 
those  of  their  opponent  by  plucking  them  or  pull- 
ing their  feathers,  and  can  even  give  them  an  irre- 
gular flight.  The  professionals,  therefore,  may  be 
expected  to  gain  a  nominal  superiority,  and  claim  to 
be  champions,  more  from  their  cunning  unscrupu- 
lousness  than  from  their  actual  skill,  and,  by  this 
fancied  superiority,  degrade  the  entire  sport. 

The  rules  which  were  adopted  at  a  convention  of 
the  principal  clubs  in  the  State  of  New  York,  held  in 
1865,  when  the  best  sporting  talent  in  the  country 
was  represented,  are  given  in  the  Appendix.  Although 


TRAP-SHOOTING.  301 

an  improvement  in  many  particulars  on  the  former 
rules,  they  are  not  perfect ;  it  is  probable  that  they 
will  be  further  amended,  so  as,  while  increasing  the 
difficulty  of  killing  the  bird,  to  place  all  sportsmen 
on  an  equal  footing,  and  to  remove  as  far  as  possible 
the  influence  of  accident. 

And  now,  apologizing  to  the  many  sportsmen  who 
are  abler  shots  and  have  had  far  greater  experience 
than  himself,  the  author  urges  in  extenuation  of  his 
presumption  in  publishing  this  book,  that  as  they 
would  not  commit  their  experiences  to  paper,  he  felt 
justified  in  attempting  it ;  and  as  the  other  sporting 
writers  have  utterly  neglected  this  field  of  labor  as 
beneath  their  notice,  he  could  not  be  blamed  for 
entering  upon  it  and  doing  with  it  the  best  of  which 
he  was  capable.  And  to  those  persons  who  follow 
in  the  track  of  the  literary  sporting  men,  and  affect 
to  despise  the  various  kinds  of  water-fowl  and  bay- 
shooting,  the  author  would  say  that  he  only  wishes 
they  may  have  such  days  with  the  geese  and  ducks, 
the  marlins,  yellow-legs,  and  dowitchers,  the  rail  and 
the  plover,  as  he  has  had,  in  the  full  confidence  that 
they  will  be  very  soon  converted. 


APPENDIX.  303 


APPENDIX. 


THE  following  technical  descriptions  are  taken 
mainly  from  "  Giraud's  Birds  of  Long  Island,"  a 
work  that  is  now  almost  out  of  print,  but  which  is 
more  valuable  to  the  student  of  nature  than  some  of 
its  more  pretentious  rivals ;  and  I  have  interpolated 
such  suggestions  and  made  such  alterations  as  my 
experience  dictated  and  the  purposes  of  this  work 
demanded.  A  discourse  on  the  wild-fowl  of  the 
Northern  States  hardly  seemed  complete  without 
such  a  description  of  them  as  would  enable  the  sports- 
man to  distinguish  one  from  another ;  and  yet  it  was 
not  within  the  purview  of  a  work  intended  for 
sportsmen,  to  devote  much  attention  or  many  of  its 
pages  to  ornithology.  This  is  therefore  condensed 
into  an  Appendix,  where  it  will  not  trouble  the 
general  reader,  but  will  be  easy  of  reference  when  the 
information  it  contains  is  wanted. 

THE  GOOSE. 
Genus  Anser,  Briss. 

Generic  Distinctions. — In  this  class  of  birds,  the 
bill  is  shorter  than  the  head,  rather  higher  than 
broad  at  the  base ;  head  small,  compressed ;  neck 
long  and  slender ;  body  full ;  feet  short,  stout,  and 


304  APPENDIX. 

central,  which  enables  them  to  walk  with  ease ;  wings 
long ;  tail  short,  rounded. 

THE  WILD  GOOSB. 

Canada  G-oose. 
Anas  Canadensis,  Wils. 

Specific  Character. — Length  of  bill  from  the  corner 
of  the  mouth  to  the  end,  two  inches  and  three-six- 
teenths; length  of  tarsi,  two  inches  and  seven- 
eighths  ;  length  from  the  point  of  the  bill  to  the  end 
of  the  tail,  about  forty  inches  ;  wing,  eighteen  ;  the 
head  and  greater  portion  of  the  neck  black  ;  cheeks 
and  throat  white.  Adult  with  the  head,  greater 
part  of  the  neck,  primaries,  rump,  and  tail,  black  ; 
back  and  wings  brown,  margined  with  paler  brown ; 
lower  part  of  the  neck  and  under  plumage,  whitish- 
grey  ;  flanks,  darker  grey  ;  cheeks  and  throat  white, 
as  are  the  upper  and  under  tail-coverts.  The  plu- 
mage of  the  female  rather  duller. 

This  bird  is  nowhere  very  abundant,  but  migrates 
across  the  Northern  States  in  their  entire  breadth 
from  ocean  to  ocean ;  it  obeys  the  call  well,  and 
stools  readily  if  the  gunner  is  carefully  concealed. 
It  is  the  latest  in  its  migrations  of  the  wild-fowl. 

THE  BKANT. 

Barnacle  Groose — Brent  Goose. 
Anas  Bernida,  Wils. 

Specific  Character. — Bill  black  ;  head  and  neck  all 
round  black ;  a  patch  on  the  sides  of  the  neck  white  ; 


APPENDIX.  305 

upper  parts  brownish-grey,  the  feathers  margined 
with  light  greyish-brown ;  quills  and  primary  coverts 
greyish-black ;  fore  part  of  breast  light  brownish- 
grey,  the  feathers  terminally  margined  with  greyish- 
white  ;  abdomen  and  lower  tail-coverts  white  ;  sides 
grey;  feathers  rather  broadly  tipped  with  white. 
Length  two  feet ;  wing  fourteen  inches  and  a  half. 
Female  rather  smaller. 

The  brant  is  not  fond  of  the  fresh  lakes  and  streams, 
but  prefers  the  ocean  and  its  contiguous  bays  and 
lagoons  ;  it  is  far  more  abundant  along  the  sea-coast 
than  upon  the  western  waters,  and  in  fact  I  am  not 
aware  that  I  have  ever  killed  one  in  the  inland  States. 
It  responds  to  its  peculiar  note,  stools  well,  and  is 
often  killed  in  great  numbers  on  the  South  Bay  of 
Long  Island. 

THE  SWAN. 
Genus  Cygnus,  Meyer. 

Generic  Distinctions. — Bill  longer  than  the  head, 
higher  than  broad  at  the  base,  depressed  and  a  little 
widened  towards  the  end ;  upper  mandible,  rounded, 
with  the  dorsal  line  sloping;  lower  mandible  flat- 
tened, with  the  angle  very  long,  and  rather  narrow ; 
nostrils  placed  near  the  ridge ;  head  of  moderate 
size,  oblong,  compressed ;  neck  extremely  long  and 
slender ;  body  very  large,  compact,  depressed ;  feet 
short,  stout,  placed  a  little  behind  the  centre  of  the 
body ;  tarsi  short ;  wings  long,  broad ;  tail  very  short, 
graduated. 


306  APPENDIX. 

THE  WHITE  SWAN. 

American  Swan. 
Cygnus  Americanus,  Aud. 

Specific  Character. — Plumage,  pure  white;  bill 
and  feet  black ;  length  of  the  specimen  before  us, 
four  feet ;  wing  twenty-one  and  a  half  inches. 

These  magnificent  birds,  the  most  majestic  of  the 
game-birds  of  our  continent,  are  rarely  shot  to  the 
northward  and  eastward  of  Chesapeake  bay,  but 
are  much  more  abundant  in  the  far  West — even  to 
and  beyond  the  Rocky  Mountains. 

FRESH-WATER  DUCKS. 

Genus  Anas,  Linn. 

Generic  Distinctions. — Bill  higher  than  broad  at 
the  base,  widening  towards  the  end,  and  about  the 
same  length  as  the  head ;  the  upper  mandible  with  a 
slight  nail  at  the  end  ;  neck  rather  long ;  body  full ; 
wings  moderate,  pointed ;  feet  short,  stout,  and  placed 
behind  the  centre  of  the  body ;  walks  with  a  wad- 
dling gait ;  hind  toe  furnished  with  a  narrow  mem- 
brane. 

MALLARD. 

Green  Head,   English    Duck,   Grey   Duck   (female),    the 
Duck,  the  Wild  Duck. 

Anas  Boschas,  Wils. 

Specific  Character. — Speculum  bright  purple,  re- 
flecting green,  bordered  with  black;  secondaries 


APPENDIX.  307 

broadly  tipped  with  black;  secondary  coverts  to- 
wards their  ends  white,  broadly  tipped  with  black ; 
adult  male  with  the  entire  head  and  upper  part  of 
the  neck  bright  green,  with  a  few  touches  of  red- 
dish-brown passing  from  the  forehead,  on  the  occi- 
put; middle  of  the  neck  with  a  white  ring;  the 
lower  part  of  the  neck  and  breast  reddish-brown, 
approaching  to  chocolate ;  fore  part  of  the  back  light 
brown,  rest  of  the  back  darker ;  rump  black ;  upper 
tail  coverts  greenish-black ;  upper  parts  of  the  wings 
brown,  intermixed  with  grey ;  breast,  sides,  flanks, 
and  abdomen,  grey,  transversely  barred  with  dusky ; 
bill  greenish-yellow ;  feet  reddish-orange ;  tail  round- 
ed, consisting  of  sixteen  pointed  feathers,  nearly 
white ;  speculum  violet ;  length  two  feet,  wing 
eleven  inches.  >  .--• 

Female  smaller  than  the  male ;  speculum  less  bril- 
liant ;  general  plumage  brown ;  head  and  neck 
streaked  with  dusky ;  the  feathers  on  the  back  and 
flanks  margined  with  white,  with  a  central  spot  of 
brown  on  the  outer  webs ;  bill  black,  changing  to 
orange  at  the  extremity. 

This  bird  is  abundant  both  at  the  West  and  along 
the  coast,  but  on  the  fresh  water  it  frequents  the 
mud-holes  and  shallow  marshes,  in  contradistinction 
to  the  open  water-ducks  that  affect  the  broad  un- 
broken stretches  of  water. 


308  APPENDIX. 

BLACK  DUCK. 

Dusky  Duck. 
Anas  Obscura,  Wils. 

Specific  Character.  —  General  plumage  dusky; 
speculum  green,  reflecting  purple,  bordered  with 
black ;  secondaries  tipped  with  white.  Adult  with 
the  forehead,  crown,  occiput,  and  middle  space  on 
the  hind  neck  brownish-black,  the  feathers  slightly 
margined  with  greyish-brown  ;  cheeks,  loral  space, 
and  sides  of  the  neck  dusky  grey,  streaked  with 
black ;  throat  reddish-brown ;  general  plumage  dusky, 
lighter  beneath ;  under  wing-coverts  white ;  specu- 
lum brilliant  green ;  bill  yellowish ;  feet  reddish- 
orange.  Female  rather  smaller,  plumage  lighter, 
speculum  less  brilliant.  Length  of  male  about  two 
feet ;  wing  eleven  inches. 

These  ducks  are  killed  equally  in  the  fresh  and 
salt  waters ;  they  come  to  the  decoys  warily. 

GADWALL. 

Welsh  Drake,  Grerman  Duck. 
Anas  Strepera,  Wils. 

Specific  Character. — Speculum  white  ;  secondary 
coverts  black ;  upper  wing-coverts  chestnut  red ; 
general  plumage  dusky  grey,  waved  with  white ; 
abdomen  white.  Adult  with  the  bill  bluish-black ; 
head  and  upper  part  of  the  neck  grey,  streaked  with 
dusky — darkest  on  the  upper  part  of  the  head,  as 
well  as  the  middle  space  on  the  hind  neck ;  lower 


APPENDIX.  309 

neck,  upper  part  of  the  breast  and  fore  part  of  the 
back  blackish-brown,  the  feathers  marked  with  semi- 
circular bands  of  white,  more  distinctly  on  the  fore 
part  of  the  neck  and  upper  part  of  the  breast ;  sides 
of  the  body  pencilled  with  greyish-white  and  dusky ; 
lower  part  of  the  breast  and  abdomen  white,  the 
latter  barred  with  dusky  towards  the  vent ;  lower 
and  upper  tail-coverts  and  sides  of  the  rump  green- 
ish-black ;  tail  greyish-brown,  margined  with  white ; 
hind  part  of  the  back  dark  brown,  faintly  barred 
with  white ;  primaries  brown ;  secondaries  greyish- 
brown,  tipped  with  white ;  middle  coverts  reddish- 
brown  ;  a  few  of  the  outer  secondaries  broadly  mar- 
gined with  greenish-black;  inner  scapulars  brown, 
broadly  margined  with  dull  yellowish-brown ;  outer 
undulated  with  dark  brown  and  yellowish-white ; 
feet  dull  orange.  Female  two  inches  shorter ;  about 
four  inches  less  in  extent.  Length  twenty-one  inches 
and  a  half;  wing  eleven. 

This  is  an  ugly  duck,  and  not  much  esteemed  by 
epicure  or  sportsman. 

WIDGEON. 

Bald-pate. 

Anas  Americana,  Wils. 

Specific  Character. — Bill  short,  the  color  light 
greyish-blue;  speculum  green,  banded  with  black; 
under  wing-coverts  white.  Adult  male  with  the 
loral  space,  sides  of  the  head  below  the  eye,  upper 
part  of  the  neck  and  throat,  brownish-white,  spotted 


310  APPENDIX. 

with  black ;  a  broad  band  of  white,  commencing  at 
the  base  of  the  upper  mandible,  passing  over  the 
crown ;  behind  the  eye,  a  broad  band  of  light 
green,  extending  backwards  on  the  hind  neck  about 
three  inches  ;  the  feathers  on  the  nape  rather  long ; 
lower  neck  and  sides  of  the  breast,  with  a  portion 
of  the  upper  part  of  the  breast,  reddish-brown ;  rest 
of  the  lower  parts  white,  excepting  a  patch  of  black 
at  the  base  of  the  tail;  under  tail-coverts  same 
color ;  flanks  brown,  barred  with  dusky ;  tail  grey- 
ish-brown, tipped  with  white ;  two  middle  feathers 
darker  and  longest ;  upper  tail-coverts  white, 
barred  with  dusky;  lower  part  of  the  hind-neck 
and  fore  part  of  the  back  undulated  with  brownish 
and  light  brownish-red,  hind  part  undulated  with 
greyish-white ;  primaries  brown ;  outer  webs  of 
inner  secondaries  black,  margined  with  white — in- 
ner webs  greyish-brown ;  secondary  coverts  white 
tipped  with  black  ;  speculum  brilliant  green,  formed 
by  the  middle  secondaries.  Length  twenty-one 
inches,  wing  ten  and  a  half.  Female  smaller,  plu- 
mage duller,  without  the  green  markings. 

This  duck  is  much  prized  along  the  sea-coast,  but 
at  the  5Vest  he  holds  an  inferior  rank. 

PINTAIL. 

Sprig-tail — Pigeon-tail — Grey-Duck. 
Anas  Acuta,  Wils. 

Specific  Character. — Bill  long  and  narrow,  lead 
color ;  at  the  tip  a  spot  of  black,  at  the  corner  of 


APPENDIX.  311 

the  mouth  a  spot  of  similar  color ;  neck  long  and 
slender ;  speculum  bright  purple,  with  reflecting 
deep  green  bordered  with  black;  the  feathers 
broadly  tipped  with  white ;  tail  long  and  pointed. 
Adult  male  with  head,  cheeks,  throat,  upper  parts 
of  the  neck  in  front  and  sides,  dark  brown ;  a  band 
of  light  purple  behind  the  eye,  extending  about 
three  inches  on  the  sides  of  the  neck ;  on  the  hind 
neck  a  band  of  black,  with  green  reflections,  fading 
as  it  extends  on  the  back — a  band  of  white  com- 
mencing between  the  two  former,  passing  down 
the  neck  on  the  lower  part  of  the  fore  neck ;  breast 
and  fore  part  of  the  abdomen  white,  tinged  with 
pale  yellow — hind  part  of  the  abdomen  and  vent 
greyish-white  tinged  with  yellow,  and  marked  with 
undulated  lines  of  brown  or  dusky ;  at  the  base  of 
the  tail  a  patch  of  black ;  under  tail-coverts  black, 
margined  with  whitish ;  two  middle  feathers  black, 
with  green  reflections,  narrow,  and  about  three 
inches  longer  than  the  rest,  which  are  rather  long 
and  tapering ;  upper  tail-coverts  ash-grey,  margined 
with  yellowish-white,  with  a  central  streak  of 
dusky.  Rump  greyish-brown,  marked  with  undulat- 
ing lines  of  white ;  sides  of  the  rump  cream  color ; 
sides  of  the  body,  back,  and  sides  of  the  breast, 
marked  with  undulating  lines  of  black  and  white. 
Primaries  brown  ;  shafts  brownish-white,  darker  at 
their  tips;  secondaries  and  scapulars  black,  with 
green  reflections,  the  former  margined  with  grey, 
which  is  the  color  of  the  greater  part  of  the  outer 
web,  the  latter  margined  with  white;  speculum 


312  APPENDIX. 

bright  purple,  with  splendid  green  reflections  edged 
with  black,  the  feathers  broadly  tipped  with  white. 
Length  twenty-nine  inches,  wing  eleven.  Female 
with  the  upper  part  of  the  head  and  hind  neck  dark 
brown,  streaked  with  dusky ;  sides  of  the  throat  and 
fore  neck  lighter ;  a  few  touches  of  rust  color  on 
the  chin  and  on  the  base  of  the  bill.  Upper  plu- 
mage brown,  the  feathers  margined  and  tipped 
with  brownish-white;  lower  plumage  brownish- 
white,  mottled  with  brown ;  speculum  less  exten- 
sive, and  without  the  lengthened  tail  feathers  so 
conspicuous  in  the  male. 

This  duck  is  more  abundant  in  the  neighborhood 
of  the  great  lakes  than  along  the  margin  of  the 
ocean;  in  epicurean  qualities  it  ranks  with  the 
black  duck. 

WOOD-DUCK. 

Summer-Duck. 

Anas  Sponsa,  Aud. 

Specific  Character. — The  pendant  crest,  the 
throat,  upper  portion  of  the  fore  neck,  and  bands 
on  the  sides  of  the  neck  white,  with  the  speculum 
blue,  glossed  with  green  and  tipped  with  white. 
Adult  male  with  the  bill  bright  red  at  the  base,  the 
sides  yellow ;  between  the  nostrils  a  black  spot 
reaching  nearly  to  the  black,  hooked  nail ;  the  head 
is  furnished  with  long  silken  feathers,  which  fall 
gracefully  over  the  hind  neck,  in  certain  lights 
exhibiting  all  the  colors  of  the  rainbow ;  a  narrow 


APPENDIX.  313 

white  line  from  the  base  of  the  upper  mandible, 
passing  over  the  eye ;  a  broader  band  of  the  same 
color  behind  the  eye,  both  bands  mingling  with  the 
long  feathers  on  the  occiput;  throat  and  upper 
portion  of  the  fore  neck  pure  white,  a  band  of  the 
same  color  inclining  towards  the  eye ;  a  similar  band 
on  the  sides  of  the  neck,  nearly  meeting  on  the 
nape ;  lower  portion  of  the  neck  reddish-purple,  the 
fore  part  marked  with  triangular  spots  of  white; 
breast  and  abdomen  dull  white ;  sides  of  the  body 
yellowish-grey,  undulated  with  black ;  the  feathers 
towards  the  ends  marked  with  a  broad  band  of  black, 
succeeded  by  a  band  of  white ;  tips  black ;  tail  and 
upper  tail-coverts  greenish-black ;  lower  tail-coverts 
brown ;  sides  of  the  rump  dull  reddish-purple ; 
rump,  back,  and  middle  portions  of  the  hind  neck, 
dark  reddish-brown,  tinged  with  green ;  a  broad 
white  band  before  the  wings,  terminating  with 
black ;  lesser  wing-coverts  and  primaries  brown, 
most  of  the  latter  with  a  portion  of  their  outer 
webs  silvery  white ;  the  inner  webs  glossed  with 
green  towards  the  ends;  secondaries  tipped  with 
white ;  their  webs  blue,  glossed  with  green  ;  the 
inner  webs  brown,  their  crowns  violet-blue  ;  secon- 
daries black. 

Female,  upper  part  of  the  head  dusky,  glossed 
with  green  ;  sides  of  the  head,  upper  portion  of  the 
sides  of  the  neck,  with  the  nape,  greyish-brown  ;  a 
white  patch  behind  the  eye ;  throat  white,  the 
bands  on  the  sides  of  the  neck  faintly  developed ; 
fore  part  and  sides  of  the  neck,  with  the  sides  of  the 
14 


314  APPENDIX. 

body,  yellowish-brown,  marked  with  greyish-brown  ; 
breast  and  abdomen  white,  the  former  spotted  with 
brown ;  lower  tail-coverts  greyish-white,  mottled 
with  brown  ;  tail  and  upper  tail-coverts  dark  brown, 
glossed  with  green  ;  rump,  back,  and  hind  neck, 
dark  brown,  glossed  with  green  and  purple ;  bill 
dusky,  feet  dull  green.  The  crest  less  than  that 
of  the  male,  and  plain  dull  brown.  Length  twenty 
inches  ;  wing  eight  inches  and  a  half. 

This  is  an  extremely  beautiful  duck,  but  of  mode- 
rate size ;  it  is  rare  on  the  sea-coast,  but  absolutely 
swarms  during  the  month  of  September  among  the 
lily-pads  of  the  Western  swamps.  Fed  upon  the 
berry  of  this  plant,  called  at  the  South  chincapin,  it 
becomes  fat  and  delickmsly  tender.  It  does  not 
pay  much  attention  to  decoys. 

GREEN-WINGED  TEAL. 

Anas. 
Anas  Crecca,  Wils. 

Specific  Character. — Bill  black,  short,  and  nar- 
row ;  the  outer  webs  of  the  first  five  secondaries 
black,  tipped  with  white;  the  next  five  plain  rich 
green,  forming  the  speculum;  secondary  coverts 
tipped  with  pale  reddish-buff.  Adult  male  with  a 
dusky  band  at  the  base  of  the  bill,  of  which  color  is 
the  throat ;  a  faint  white  band  under  the  eye ;  upper 
part  of  the  neck,  sides  of  the  head,  and  the  crown, 
chestnut  brown  ;  a  broad  band  of  bright  green  com- 
mencing behind  the  eye,  passing  down  on  the  nape, 


APPENDIX.  315 

where  it  is  separated  by  the  terminal  portion  of  the 
crest,  which  is  dark  blue ;  lower  part  of  the  hind 
neck,  a  small  space  on  the  fore  neck,  and  the  sides 
of  the  body,  undulated  with  lines  of  black  and 
white ;  lower  portion  of  the  fore  neck  and  upper 
part  of  the  breast  reddish-brown,  distinctly  marked 
with  round  spots  of  brownish-black ;  abdomen  yel- 
lowish-white, faintly  undulated  with  dusky ;  a  patch 
of  black  under  the  tail ;  outer  tail-feathers  buff,  in- 
ner white,  with  a  large  spot  of  black  on  the  inner 
webs ;  tail  brown,  margined  with  whitish,  the  outer 
feathers  greenish-black ;  upper  parts  brown,  faintly 
undulated  with  black  and  white,  on  the  fore  part  of 
the  back ;  outer  scapulars  similar,  with  a  portion  of 
their  outer  webs  black ;  lesser  wing-coverts  brown- 
ash;  greater  coverts  tipped  with  reddish-cream; 
the  first  five  secondaries  velvety-black ;  the  next  five 
bright  green,  forming  the  speculum,  which  is 
bounded  above  by  pale  reddish-buff,  and  on  each 
side  by  deep  black ;  before  the  wing  a  transverse, 
broad  white  band. 

Female  smaller;  head  and  neck  streaked  with 
brownish-white  and  dusky,  darker  on  the  upper 
part  of  the  head ;  lower  parts  reddish-brown,  the 
feathers  margined  with  dusky,  upper  parts  dusky- 
brown,  the  feathers  margined  and  spotted  with  pale 
reddish- white,  without  the  chestnut  red  and  the 
green  on  the  head ;  the  black  patch  is  wanting,  as  is 
the  white  band  before  the  wings,  the  conspicuous 
spot  on  the  wings  is  less  extensive.  Its  short  and 
narrow  bill  is  at  all  times  a  strong  specific  character ; 


316  APPENDIX. 

length   fifteen  inches ;    wing   seven  inches  and  a 
half. 

This  is  an  excellent  little  duck,  too  confiding  for  its 
own  security,  but  capable  of  saving  itself  by  great 
rapidity  of  flight.  It  is  greatly  attracted  by  decoys, 
and  will  generally  alight  among  them  if  permitted. 

BLUE- WINGED  TEAL. 

Anas  Discors,  Wils. 

/Specific  Character. — Bill  bluish-black  and  long  in 
proportion  with  the  other  dimensions  of  this  species ; 
smaller  wing-coverts  light-blue ;  speculum  purplish- 
green.  Adult  male  with  the  upper  part  of  the  head 
black ;  a  broad  band  of  white  on  the  sides  of  the 
head,  before  the  eye  margined  with  black ;  rest  part 
of  the  head,  and  upper  part  of  the  neck  greyish-brown, 
with  purple  reflections  on  the  hind  neck ;  chin  black ; 
lower  parts  reddish-brown  ;  lower  part  of  the  fore 
neck  and  sides  of  the  body  spotted  with  blackish- 
brown  ;  breast  and  abdomen  barred  with  the  same 
color ;  lower  tail-coverts  blackish-brown  ;  tail  brown, 
margined  with  paler,  the  feathers  pointed,  a  patch 
of  white  on  the  sides  of  the  rump ;  back  brownish- 
black,  glossed  with  green ;  the  feathers  on  the  fore 
part  of  the  back  and  lower  portion  of  the  hind  neck 
margined  with  yellowish- white ;  primaries  brown ; 
inner  webs  of  the  secondaries  same  color;  outer 
vanes  dark  green,  which  form  the  speculum ;  second- 
ary coverts  brown,  the  outer  broadly  tipped  with 
white,  the  inner  tipped  with  blue;  teitials  dark- 


APPENDIX.  317 

green,  with  central  markings  of  deep  buff;  feet  dull 
yellow. 

Female  without  the  white  patch  on  the  sides  of 
the  head ;  throat  white ;  lower  parts  greyish-brown, 
the  feathers  spotted  with  darker;  upper  parts 
blackish-brown,  the  feathers  margined  with  bluish- 
white  and  pale  buff;  smaller  wing-coverts  blue; 
speculum  green ;  secondary  coverts  the  same  as 
those  of  the  male  ;  length  fourteen  inches,  wing 
seven  inches  and  a  half. 

This  species  greatly  resembles  the  last. 

SPOONBILL. 

Shoveller. 
Anas  Clypeata,  Wils. 

Specific  Character. — Bill  brownish-black,  about 
three  inches  in  length,  near  the  end  it  is  more  than 
twice  as  broad  as  it  is  at  the  base ;  much  rounded 
and  closely  pectinated,  the  size  of  the  upper  mandi- 
ble at  the  base  having  the  appearance  of  a  fine- 
toothed  comb.  Adult  male  with  the  head  and  the 
neck  for  about  half  its  length  glossy  green,  with  purple 
reflections ;  lower  part  of  the  neck  and  upper  part 
of  the  breast  white ;  rest  of  the  lower  plumage  deep 
chestnut-brown,  excepting  the  lower  tail-coverts  and 
a  band  across  the  vent,  which  is  black,  some  of  the 
feathers  partly  green ;  flanks  brownish-yellow  pen- 
cilled with  black  and  blackish-brown  ;  inner  second- 
aries dark  green  with  terminal  spot  of  white ;  outer 


318  APPENDIX. 

secondaries  lighter  green;  primaries  dark  brown, 
their  shafts  white,  with  dusky  tips;  lesser  wing- 
coverts  light  blue ;  speculum  golden-green ;  rump 
and  upper  tail-coverts  greenish-black,  a  patch  of 
white  at  the  sides  of  the  rump  ;  tail  dark  brown,  the 
feathers  pointed,  broadly  edged  with  white,  of 
which  color  are  the  inner  webs  of  the  three  outer 
feathers. 

Female  with  the  crown  dusky;  upper  plumage 
blackish-brown,  the  feathers  edged  with  reddish- 
brown  ;  breast  yellowish-white,  marked  with  semi- 
circular spots  of  white.  Young  male  with  similar 
markings  on  the  breast ;  length  twenty  inches  and 
a  half,  wing  ten. 

SKA-DUCK. 

Genus  Fuligula. 

Generic  Distinctions. — In  this  class  the  head  is 
rather  larger,  neck  rather  shorter  and  thicker,  than 
in  the  preceding  genus  (Anas),  plumage  more  dense, 
feet  stronger,  and  the  hind  toe  with  a  broad  ap- 
pendage, which  is  the  principal  distinction. 

CANVAS-BACK. 

Fuligula  Valisneria,  Wils. 

Specific  Character. — Bill  black,  the  length  about 
three  inches,  and  very  high  at  the  base  ;  fore  part  of 
the  head  and  the  throat  dusky ;  irides  deep  red ; 
breast  brownish-black.  Adult  male  with  the  fore- 


APPENDIX.  319 

head,  loral  space,  throat,  and  upper  part  of  the  head 
dusky ;  sides  of  the  head,  neck  all  round  for  nearly 
the  entire  length,  reddish-chestnut;  lower  neck, 
fore  part  of  the  breast  and  back  black ;  rest  of  the 
back  white,  closely  marked  with  undulating  lines 
of  black;  rump  and  upper  tail-coverts  blackish; 
wing-coverts  grey,  speckled  with  blackish ;  prima- 
ries and  secondaries  light  slate  color  ;  tail  short,  the 
feathers  pointed ;  lower  part  of  the  breast  and  ab- 
domen white;  flanks  same  color,  finely  pencilled 
with  dusky;  lower  tail-coverts  blackish-brown,  in- 
termixed with  white ;  length  twenty-two  inches, 
wing  nine  and  a  quarter. 

Female,  upper  parts  greyish-brown ;  neck,  sides, 
and  abdomen  the  same ;  upper  part  of  the  breast 
brown ;  belly  white,  pencilled  with  blackish ;  rather 
smaller  than  the  male,  with  the  crown  blackish- 
brown. 

This  is  without  question  the  finest  duck  that  flies, 
as  it  is  the  largest  and  gamest ;  it  is  abundant  late  in 
the  season,  but  wary. 

RED-HEAD. 

Fuligula  Ferina,  Wila. 

Specific  Character. — Bill  bluish,  towards  the  end 
black,  and  about  two  inches  and  a  quarter  long ; 
irides  yellowish-red.  Adult  male  with  head,  which 
is  rather  large,  and  the  upper  part  of  the  neck 
all  round,  dark  reddish  chestnut,  brightest  on  the 
hind  neck  ;  lower  part  of  the  neck,  extending  on  the 


£20  APPENDIX. 

back  and  upper  part  of  the  breast,  black ;  abdomen 
white,  darker  towards  the  vent,  where  it  is  barred 
with  undulating  lines  of  dusky ;  flanks  grey,  closely 
barred  with  black ;  scapulars  the  same ;  primaries 
brownish-grey ;  secondaries  lighter ;  back  greyish- 
brown,  barred  with  fine  lines  of  white ;  rump  and 
upper  tail  coverts  blackish-brown  ;  tail  feathers 
greyish-brown,  lighter  at  the  base  ;  lower  tail- coverts 
brownish-black,  rather  lighter  than  the  upper ;  length 
twenty  inches ;  wing  nine  and  a  half.  Female  about 
two  inches  smaller,  with  the  head,  neck,  breast, 
and  general  color  of  the  upper  parts  brown  ;  darker 
on  the  upper  part  of  the  head,  lighter  on  the  back ; 
bill,  legs,  and  feet,  similar  to  those  of  the  male. 

This  duck,  as  it  is  scarcely  distinguishable  from 
the  canvas-back,  and  has  mainly  the  same  habits,  is 
but  little  inferior  to  that  incomparable  bird. 

BROAD-BILL. 

Blue  Bill.  Scaup,  Black  Head,  Raft  Duck. 
Fuligula  Marila,  Linn. 

Specific  Character. — The  head  and  neck  all  round, 
with  the  fore  part  of  the  brenst  and  fore  part  of  back, 
black ;  the  sides  of  the  head  and  the  sides  and  hind 
part  of  the  neck  dark  green,  reflecting  purple ;  length 
of  bill,  when  measured  along  the  gap,  two  inches  and 
five-sixteenths ;  length  of  tarsi  one  inch  and  three- 
eighths  ;  length  from  the  point  of  the  bill  to  the  end 
of  the  tail  nineteen  inches ;  wing  eight  inches  and 
five-eighths ;  a  broad  white  band  crossing  the  secon- 


APPENDIX.  321 

daries  and  continues  on  the  inner  primaries.  Adult 
male  with  the  forehead,  crown,  throat,  and  upper 
part  of  the  fore  neck  brownish-black ;  sides  of  the 
head,  neck,  and  hind  neck,  dark  green  ;  lower  portion 
of  the  neck  all  round,  with  the  upper  part  of  the- 
breast,  purplish-black  ;  rest  of  the  lower  parts  white, 
undulated  with  black  towards  the  vent ;  under  tail- 
coTerts  blackish-brown  ;  tail  short,  dark  brown,  mar- 
gined and.  tipped  with  lighter  brown ;  upper  tail- 
coverts  and  rump  blackish-brown ;  middle  of  the  back 
undulated  with  black  and  white ;  fore  part  black ; 
wings  brown,  darker  at  the  base  and  tips ;  speculum 
white,  formed  by  the  band  crossing  the  secondaries 
and  inner  primaries  ;  scapulars  and  inner  secondaries 
undulated  with  black  and  white ;  secondary  coverts 
blackish-brown,  undulated  with  white.  Female  with 
a  broad  patch  of  white  on  the  forehead  ;  head,  neck, 
and  fore  part  of  the  breast  umber  brown ;  upper  parts 
blackish-brown ;  abdomen  and  lower  portions  of 
breast  white  ;  scapulars  faintly  marked  with  white. 

WHISTLEK. 

Golden  Eye,  Great  Head. 
Fuligula  Clangula,  Linn. 

Specific  Character. — Bill  black,  high  at  the  base, 
where  there  is  quite  a  large  spot  of  white ;  head  orna- 
mented with  a  beautiful  crest,  and  feathers  more 
than  an  inch  long  and  loose;  insides  yellow;  the 
entire  head  and  upper  part  of  the  neck  rich  glossy- 
green,  with  purple  reflections,  more  particularly  so 
14* 


322  APPENDIX. 

on  the  throat  and  forehead ;  rest  of  the  neck,  with 
the  entire  plumage,  white ;  sides  of  the  rump  and 
vent  dusky  grey ;  tail  greyish-brown  ;  back  and 
wings  brownish-black— a  large  patch  of  white  on  the 
latter,  formed  by  the  larger  portion  of  the  seconda- 
ries and  the  tips  of  its  coverts ;  legs  reddish-orange. 
Length  twenty  inches ;  wing  nine  inches.  Female 
head  and  upper  part  of  the  neck  dull  brown  ;  wings 
dusky  ;  lower  parts  white,  as  are  six  of  the  seconda- 
ries and  their  coverts ;  the  tips  of  the  latter  dusky. 
About  three  inches  smaller  than  the  male. 

DIPPER. 

Butter  Ball,  Buffel-Headed  Duck,  Spirit  Duck. 
Faligula  Albeola,  Linn. 

Specific  Character. — Bill  blue,  from  the  corner  of 
the  mouth  to  the  end  about  one  inch  and  a  half,  the 
sides  rounded,  narrowed  towards  the  point ;  head 
thickly  crested,  a  patch  behind  the  eye  and  a  band 
on  the  wings  white.  Adult  male  with  the  plumage 
of  the  head  and  neck  thick,  and  long  forehead ;  loral 
space  and  hind  neck  rich  glossy  green,  changing 
into  purple  on  the  crown  and  sides  of  the  head  ;  from 
the  eye  backwards  over  the  head  a  triangular  patch 
of  white ;  the  entire  breast  and  sides  of  the  body 
pure  white ;  abdomen  dusky  white ;  tail  rounded, 
greyish-brown ;  upper  tail-coverts  lighter ;  under 
tail-coverts  soiled  white ;  back  and  wings  black,  with 
a  patch  of  white  on  the  latter.  Female  upper  plu- 
mage sooty-brown,  with  a  band  of  white  on  the  sides 


APPENDIX.  323 

of  the  head ;  outer  webs  of  a  few  of  the  secondaries 
same  color ;  lower  part  of  the  fore  neck  ash-color ; 
breast  and  abdomen  soiled  white ;  tail  feathers 
rather  darker  than  those  of  the  male.  Male  fourteen 
and  a  half  inches  long  ;  wing  six  inches  and  three- 
fourths.  Female  rather  smaller. 

The  dipper  is  quite  plentiful  everywhere  in  the 
Northern  States,  but  not  much  valued. 

OLD  WIPE. 

South  Southerly,  Old  Squaw,  Long-Tailed  Duck. 
Fuligula  Glacialis,  Linn. 

Specific  Character. — Length  of  bill,  from  the  ter- 
mination of  the  frontlet  feathers  to  the  point,  one 
inch  and  one-sixteenth — the  upper  mandible  rounded ; 
the  sides  very  thin ;  the  bill  rather  deeply  serrated, 
and  furnished  with  a  long  nail ;  tail  feathers  acute. 
In  the  male  the  middle  pair  of  tail  feathers  are 
extended  about  four  inches  beyond  the  next  longest, 
which  character  is  wanting  with  the  female.  Adult 
male  with  the  bill  black  at  the  base ;  anterior  to  the 
nostril  reddish-orange,  with  a  dusky  line  margining 
the  nail ;  fore  part  of  the  head  white,  the  same  color 
passing  over  the  head  down  the  hind  neck  on  the 
back ;  eyes  dark  red ;  cheeks  and  loral  space  dusky- 
white,  with  a  few  touches  of  yellowish-brown ;  a 
black  patch  on  the  sides  of  the  neck  terminating  in 
reddish-brown ;  fore  neck  white ;  breast  brownish- 
black,  terminating  in  an  oval  form  on  the  abdomen 
— the  latter  white;  flanks  bluish-white;  primaries 


324  APPENDIX. 

dark  brown ;  secondaries  lighter  brown,  their  coverts 
black ;  a  semicircular  band  of  black  on  the  fore  part 
of  the  back ;  the  outer  two  tail  feathers  white — the 
rest  marked  with  brown,  excepting  the  four  acu- 
minated feathers,  which  are  blackish-brown,  the 
middle  pair  extending  several  inches  beyond  the 
others.  Female  without  the  long  scapulars  or  elon- 
gated tail  feathers ;  bill  dusky-green ;  head  dark, 
greyish-brown — a  patch  of  greyish-white  on  the 
sides  of  the  neck ;  crown  blackish  ;  upper  parts  dark 
greyish-brown ;  lower  parts  white.  Length  of  male 
from  the  point  of  the  bill  to  the  end  of  the  elongated 
tail  feathers  twenty-three  inches ;  wing  eight  inches 
and  five-eighths.  Female  about  six  inches  less  in 
length.  * 

This  bird  is  abundant  along  the  coast,  but  is 
generally  tough  and  fishy. 

MERGANSER. 

Gemis  M&rgus,  Linn. 

Generic  Distinctions. — Bill  straight,  higher  than 
broad  at  base ;  much  smaller  towards  the  end ;  upper 
mandible  hooked;  teeth  sharp;  head  rather  large, 
compressed ;  body  rather  long,  depressed ;  plumage 
very  thick ;  feet  placed  far  behind ;  wings  moderate, 
acute ;  tail  short,  rounded. 


APPENDIX.  325 

SHELL-DEAKE. 

G-oosander  Weaser. 
Mergus  Merganser,  Wils. 

Specific  Character. — Forehead  low ;  head  rounded, 
crested ;  bill  bright  red,  the  ridge  black,  high  at 
base;  upper  mandible  much  hooked.  Adult  male 
with  the  head  and  upper  part  of  the  neck  greenish- 
black  ;  lower  portion  of  the  neck  white ;  under 
plumage  light  buff,  delicately  tinged  with  rose-color, 
which  fades  after  death ;  sides  of  the  rump  greyish- 
white,  marked  with  undulating  lines  of  dusky ;  fore 
part  of  the  back  and  inner  scapulars  glossy  black ; 
hind  part  of  the  back  ash-grey ;  the  feathers  margined 
and  tipped  with  greyish-white,  lighter  on  the  rump ; 
upper  tail-coverts  grey,  the  feathers  marked  with 
central  streaks  of  dusky ;  tail  feathers  darker ;  pri- 
maries dark  brown ;  wing  coverts  and  secondaries 
white,  the  outer  webs  of  the  latter  edged  with 
black ;  the  basal  part  of  the  greater  coverts  black, 
forming  a  conspicuous  band  on  the  wings;  under 
tail-coverts  white,  outer  webs  marked  with  dusky 
grey,  which  is  the  color  of  the  greater  part  of  the 
web ;  bill  and  feet  bright  red.  Female  with  the  head 
and  upper  part  of  the  neck  reddish-brown ;  throat 
and  lower  neck  in  front  white ;  breast  and  abdomen 
deeply  tinged  with  buff;  upper  parts  and  sides  of 
the  body  ash-grey ;  speculum  white.  Length  of 
male,  twenty-seven  inches;  wing,  ten  and  a  half. 
Female  about  three  inches  smaller.  Young  like  the 
female. 


RULES  FOR  TRAP-SHOOTING 

OP  THE 

NEW  YORK  SPORTSMEN'S  ASSOCIATION. 


RULE  I.  Traps,  Else,  and  Boundaries.  —  All 
matches  shall  be  shot  from  H  and  T  plunge-traps. 
Rise  for  single  birds  to  be  twenty-one  yards ;  and  for 
double  birds  eighteen  yards.  The  boundaries  shall 
be  eighty  yards  for  single  birds,  and  one  hundred 
yards  for  double  birds,  which,  in  single-bird  shoot- 
ing, shall  be  measured  from  a  point  equidistant 
from,  and  in  a  direct  line  between,  the  two  traps ; 
in  double-bird  shooting  from  a  point  equidistant 
from,  and  in  a  direct  line  between,  the  centre-traps. 

RULE  II.  Scoring. — When  a  person  is  at  the 
score  and  ready  to  shoot,  he  is  to  call  "  pull ; "  and, 
should  the  trap  be  sprung  without  his  having  given 
the  word,  or  in  single-bird  shooting  should  more  than 
one  bird  rise  at  a  time,  he  may  take  the  bird  or 
birds,  or  not ;  but  if  he  shoot,  the  bird  or  birds  shall 
be  charged  to  him.  The  party  at  the  score  must 
not  leave  it  to  shoot,  and  must  hold  the  butt  of  his 
gun  below  his  elbow  until  the  bird  or  birds  rise ; 


RULES  FOR  TRAP-SHOOTING.  327 

and  in  case  of  infraction  of  this  provision,  the  bird  or 
birds  shall  be  scored  as  missed. 

RULE  HI.  Rising  of  Birds. — A  bird  must  be  on 
the  wing  when  shot  at.  All  contingencies  from 
missfire,  non-explosion  of  cap,  gun  not  cocked,  etc., 
etc.,  are  at  the  risk  of  the  party  shooting. 

RULE  IV.  Recovering  Birds. — It  shall  be  op- 
tional with  the  party  shooting  to  recover  his  own 
birds,  or  to  appoint  a  person  for  that  purpose.  He 
shall  in  all  cases  walk  directly  up  to  the  bird  and 
take  it  without  injury ;  and,  in  case  of  doubt,  hand 
it  to  the  Judges  for  their  decision.  If  a  bird  flies 
outside  the  bounds  it  shall  be  scored  as  missed. 
Should  a  bird  alight  upon  a  tree,  house,  or  any 
other  resting-place  within  the  bounds,  after  it  has 
been  shot  at,  the  party  shooting,  or  his  deputy, 
shall  proceed  immediately  to  the  spot,  and  if  the 
bird  does  not  fall,  without  any  extraneous  means 
being  used,  such  as  throwing  clods,  stones,  sticks, 
or  using  poles,  etc.,  within  three  minutes  from  the 
time  it  alights,  it  shall  be  scored  a  miss. 

RULE  V.  Flight  of  Birds. — In  double  shooting, 
both  birds  shall  be  on  the  wing  when  the  first  is 
shot  at ;  if  but  one  bird  flies,  and  but  one  barrel  is 
fired  or  snapped,  the  birds  shall  in  no  wise  be 
scored,  whether  hit  or  missed,  but  the  party  shoot- 
ing shall  have  two  more  birds ;  or  if  both  birds  fly 
and  are  killed  with  one  barrel,  he  must  shoot  at  two 
other  birds. 


82 S  KULES  FOR  TRAP-SHOOTING. 

RULE  VI.  Placing  the  Traps. — In  single-bird 
shooting  the  distance  between  the  traps  shall  be 
eight  yards ;  in  double-bird  shooting,  as  four  trap* 
are  used,  the  H  and  T  traps  shall  be  set  alternately, 
and  four  yards  apart.  When  five  traps  are  used, 
they  shall  be  four  yards  apart. 

RULE  VII.  Powder  and  Shot. — The  charge  of 
shot  shall  not  exceed  1  £  ounces.  All  the  guns  shall 
be  loaded  from  the  same  charger,  except  in  cases 
of  breech-loaders,  when  the  Referee  may  open  one 
or  more  cartridges  to  ascertain  if  the  charge  of  shot 
is  correct. 

RULE  VIII.  Ties.  —  In  case  of  a  tie  at  single 
birds,  the  distance  shall  be  increased  five  yards,  and 
shall  be  shot  off  at  five  birds.  In  case  of  a  second 
tie,  the  distance  shall  again  be  increased  five  yards, 
and  this  distance  shall  be  maintained  till  the  match 
is  decided.  The  ties  in  double-bird  shooting  shall 
be  shot  off  at  twenty-one  yards  rise  without  any 
increase,  at  five  double  rises. 

RULE  IX.  Judges  and  Referee.  —  Two  Judges 
and  a  Referee  shall  be  appointed  before  the  shoot- 
ing commences.  The  Referee's  decision  shall  be 
final;  he  shall  have  power  to  call  "No  bird,"  in 
case  any  bird  fails  to  fly ;  and  may  allow  a  contest- 
ant another  bird  in  case  the  latter  shall  have  been 
baulked,  or  interfered  with,  or  may,  for  any  reason 
satisfactory  to  the  Referee,  be  entitled  to  it.  If  a 
bird  shall  fly  towards  parties  within  the  bounds,  in 


RULES  FOR  TRAP-SHOOTING.  329 

such  a  manner  that  to  shoot  at  it  would  endanger 
any  person,  another  bird  may  be  allowed ;  and  if  a 
bird  is  shot  at  by  any  person  besides  the  party  at  the 
score,  the  Referee  shall  decide  how  it  shall  be  scored, 
or  whether  a  new  bird  shall  be  allowed. 


THE   END. 


INDEX. 


Accidents  from  muzzle-loaders,  42. 

Accidents  in  rail-shooting.  197. 

A  day's  shooting  in  New  Jersey,  106. 

Adventure  in  New  Jersey,  99. 

"  A  Girl  from  New  Jersey,"  98. 

American  golden  plover,  143-179. 

American  gun-makers,  63. 

American  ring-plover,  158 ;  swan,  306. 

Anas,  bernicla,  804 ;  canadensis,  804 ; 

genus,  806 ;  boschas,  306 ;  obscura, 
808 ;  strepera,  308 ;  Americana, 
809 ;  acuta,  810 ;  sponsa,  812 ; 
crecca,  314;  discors,  816;  clype- 
ata,  317. 

Ancient  and  modern  hunting,  8. 

Apparatus  necessary  for  breech- 
loader, 37. 

Appendix,  308. 

Barnegat  Bay,  22. 

Barnegat  pirates,  117-118. 

Bartram's  sandpiper,  152. 

Bass-fishing  out  West,  261. 

Bathing-party  on  Jersey  coast,  103. 

Batteries,  20  ;  description  of,  21,  205 ; 
condemned,  21,  22,  25. 

Bay -birds,  19  ;  definition  of,  66 ;  im- 
proper modes  of  pursuing,  20 ;  bat- 
teries, 20,  21,  22,  '25. 

(See  Bay-Snipe.) 

Bay-snipe,  shooting,  66, 108, 104 ;  none 
in  England,  58 ;  what  are,  66 ;  traits 
of,  103;  sociability  of,  103;  pecu- 
liarities of,  136;  ''trading,"  104; 
skill  required  for  shooting,  67 ;  sport 
of  shooting,  68-106 ;  shooting  on  the 
Jersey  coast,  106 ;  the  French  gen- 
tleman's beautiful  shot,  69 ;  rivalry 
in  shooting,  70 ;  number  bagged  at 
one  shot,  70;  flight  of;  uncertainty 
as  to,  71, 85,  86-87 ;  season  for  sport, 
71-72 ;  flying,  mode  of,  72 ;  flight, 
line  of,  73-S6;  lead  migration  of 
game  birds,  18;  flight,  direction  ol 
79-74 ;  period  of  "incubation,  78 
varieties  of,  74 ;  sickle-bills,  75 
jack-curlew,  76;  plover,  109;  mar 
lin,  76;  willet,  77;  golden  plover 
77-112;  black-breast,  77;  yelper 
77 ;  yellow-legs,  77  ;  brant  -  bird, 
78-182 ;  robin-snipe,  78 ;  dowitcher, 


78-132 ;  krieker,  78-181 ;  pursuit  of; 
best  mode.  7S ;  stools,  79-80  ;  t;2-88 ; 
calls,  79-83-84 ;  stands,  79  ;  wooden 
stools  best,  81  ;  whistling,  84 ;  cries 
of  the  birds,  84 ;  shooting,  uncer- 
tainty of,  85  ;  gun  to  be  used  for, 
87-90  ;  charge  and  powder  for,  87- 
91 ;  how  to  carry  the  gun.  87  ;  shoot- 
ing, dress  for,  90  ;  names  of;  confu- 
sion as  to,  91 ;  names  of,  varieties 
of,  91 ;  names  of,  scientific,  92-109  ; 
varieties  of;  Bartram's  sandpiper, 
110 ;  frost-bird  and  frost-snipe,  92- 
118 ;  meadow-snipe,  92  ;  beach-bird, 
92  ;  fat-bird.  92  ;  short-neck,  92  ; 
pectoral  sandpiper,  92 ;  horsj;foot 
snipe,  92-132;  varieties  of,  discus- 
sion about,  109_;  which  are  good 
eating,  93 ;  stringing,  how  to  be 
done,  94 ;  migration  of,  94  ;  locali- 
ties for,  94-95,  97 ;  not  killed  south 
of  Virginia,  95;  at  Quogue,  96; 
sport  spoiled  by  establishment  of 
watering-place,  96 ;  at  Squan 
Beach,  97 ;  at  Barnegat,  Egg  Har- 
bor, Brigantine  Beach,  97  ;  shooting 
in  New  Jersey ,106. 

Beach-bird,  113,  145. 

Beach  on  Jersey  coast,  101. 

Beach-robins,  148. 

Beetle-headed  plover,  141. 

Big  yellow-legs,  105. 

"  Bill,"  and  the  names  of  the  plovers, 
113. 

Bill's  ghost  stories,  120. 

Bill's  house,  116. 

Birds,   wounded,  what   becomes  of 
them,  237. 

Birds,  definition  of  term,  9. 

"  game,  which  are.  10  ;  in  restau- 
rants out  of  season,  15  ;  protection 
of,  10, 13, 14  ;  services  rendered  by, 
11,  12 ;  out  of  season,  16  ;  legal 
time  for  killing,  17 ;  singing  birds, 
murder  of,  13  ;  season  for  killing 
different  kinds,  17,18,19;  migra- 
tion of  game-birds,  18. 

Black -bellied  plover,  112-141. 

Bald-pate  duck,  309. 

Black  duck,  808. 

Black-head  duck,  320. 


INDEX. 


Blue-bill  duck,  320. 

Blue-winged  teal,  316. 

Blind  for  shooting,  106. 

Blind-snipe.  157. 

Blue-bills,  288. 

Blue-fish,  season  for,  133. 

Bony  fish,  134. 

Black-breast.  141, 156. 

Brant-bird,  148. 

Breech-loaders,  32,  87 ;  advantages 
of.  42,  237  ;  objections  to,  43-48-49 ; 
superiority  of.  33  ;  history  of,  33  ; 
Lefaucheux,  33 ;  mode  of  using,  84, 
85;  safety  of,  89;  cartridge  for, 
34, 39,  50,  62  ;  needle-gun,  36  ;  Jef- 
fries gun,  36 ;  English  gun,  87 ; 
impervious  to  wet,  41 ;  apparatus 
necessary  for,  37 ;  recoil  of,  41 ; 
refilling  cartridges,  54,  57 ;  trial  be- 
tween breech  and  muzzle-loaders 
in  1S68,  44;  pigeon  match  with, 
44 ;  discussion  as  to  in  "  The  Field," 
43  ;  the  dead  shot.  43-59 :  heating 
of  gun,  53  ;  useful  for  killing  snipe, 
duck,  and  rail,  60 ;  compared  with 
muzzle-loaders,  CO ;  Dougall's  in- 
vention, the  lockfast,  61 ;  price  of, 
62 ;  must  be  imported,  64. 

Broad-bill,  238,  320. 

Brown-back,  171. 

Bull-headed  plover,  112-141. 

Buffel-headed  duck,  322. 

Butter-ball  duck,  322. 

Calls  for  birds,  79-88-84 

Canvas-back  ducks  classified  as 
sea-ducks,  237 ;  comparison  be- 
tween them  and  mallards,  237,  318. 

Carrying  gun,  87. 

Cartridges  for  breech-loaders,  84-39  ; 
safety  of,  89 ;  impervious  to  wet, 
41 ;  objections  to  answered,  50 ; 
filling,  50  ;  refilling,  54-57 ;  extrac- 
tor, 54 ;  missfires  with,  56 ;  best  kind, 
62.  (See  breech-loaders.) 

Cedar-birds  destroy  worms,  11. 

Change  of  guns,  28. 

I  hange  of  seasons  for  birds,  118. 

Charadrius,  helveticus,  112. 141 ;  plu- 
vialis,  112, 148,  179  ;  sernipalmatus, 
118;  vociferus,  118,146;  hiaticula, 
145 ;  rubidus,  147. 

Charge  used  for  shooting  bay-birds, 
87. 

"  Charley's,"  101. 

Cheap  guns,  28. 

Chesapeake  Bay.  ducks  on,  20. 

Cleaning  gun,  89. 

Close  times  for  killing  game-birds,  17. 

Clubs,  sportsmen's,  14 ;  Western,  219. 


Coast  of  New  Jersey,  106. 
Comparison    between    breech    and 

muzzle-loaders,  60. 
Confusion  in  names  of  birds,  91. 
Cook's  '•  Tommy,"  98. 
Crabtown,  100. 
Crack  shots,  274. 
Cross-shots,  278. 
Cries  of  birds,  84. 
Curlew,    76,    183,    173;    Esquimaux 

176. 
Cygnus,  genus,  305 ;  Americanus,  306. 

Dead  birds,  stools  made  of.  82. 

"  Dead-shot,"  the,  48,  58-59. 

Deceptions  by  gun-makers,  80. 

Decoys,  79. 

Defence  of  sporting,  273. 

Definition  of  game  in  English  law,  7. 

Delaware  rail-shooting,  197. 

Depredations  of  worms  checked  by 
birds,  10-11. 

Derivation  of  name  of  "  plover,"  111. 

Description  of  plover,  111. 

Dipper-duck,  322. 

Doe-bird,  176. 

Dogs,  for  wild-fowl  shooting,  207 ; 
for  all  shooting,  208  ;  varieties  of, 
209  ;  training  of,  210  ;  colors  of, 
211  ;  Newfoundland,  209,  212  ;  re- 
triever, 209  ;  at  the  South,  209. 

Dougall's  invention — the  "  lockfast," 
61. 

Dowitch,  171. 

Dowitcher,  the,  78,  182,  171. 

Dress  for  shooting,  90. 

Ducks,  game,  10;  time  for  killing, 
]7-18;  where  plentiful,  20;  Clas- 
sification of,  287  ;  flavor  of,  286  ; 
shooting,  219  ;  with  breech-loader, 
60  ;  sport  of,  213-227  ;  localities 
for,  218;  weather  for,  214;  on 
inland  lakes,  219  ;  sportsmen's  club 
out  West,  219 ;  adventures  in 
West.  221,  226  ;  Mud  Creek  bridge, 
229  ;  record  of  shooting  in  the 
West,  238  ;  talk  about  sport,  238 ; 
canvas-backs  and  the  wild  celery, 
235;  shot  to  be  used  for,  288; 
Henry,  282;  how  to  shoot  the 
ducks,  255 ;  Irish  gentleman's  shot, 
256;  among  the  weeds,  258  ;  punt- 
ing, 259;  freshwater.  306 ;  mallard, 
306;  greenhead,  English,  grey, 
wild,  806-810;  gadwall,  Welsh 
drake,  German,  308 ;  widgeon, 
bald-pate.  809;  pintail,  sprig-tail, 
pigeon-tail,  310  ;  wood,  812  ;  sum- 
mer, 312  ;  green-winged  teal,  814  ; 
blue-winged  teal,  816;  spoonbill, 


INDEX. 


333 


shoveller,  817 ;  sea  duck,  818;  can- 
vas-back, 818;  red-head,  819; 
broad-bill,  blue-bill,  scaup,  black- 
head, raft,  820 ;  whistler,  golden  eye, 
groat-head,  821 ;  butter-ball,  buffel- 
headed,  spirit,  822 ;  old  wife,  south- 
southerly,  old  squaw,  long-tailed, 
828  ;  Merganser,  824 ;  shell-drake, 
goosander  weaser,  825. 
Dusky  duck,  308. 


Eating,  which  birds  are  best  for,  93. 
England,    no   bay-snipe  nor  rail  in, 

58. 
England,  trial   of  breech-loaders  in, 

44^7 
English  guns,  German  palmed  off  as, 

80. 

English  guns  preferable,  37. 
English  law  defines  game,  7. 
English  snipe,  114;  seasons  for,  188. 
English  duck,  306. 
European  woodcock,  8. 

Farmer's  interest  in  protecting  birds, 
10. 

Fat-bird,  92-160. 

"  Field,"  the,  on  breech  and  muzzle- 
loaders,  43. 

Field-plover,  152. 

Fight  for  shooting  stands,  126. 

Fighting,  reflections  on,  129. 

Filling  cartridges,  50. 

Firing  gun  too  close  to  companion, 
70. 

Fish.  blue,  seasons  for,  188;  bony 
134. 

Fishing  at  the  West,  261. 

Flight  of  bay-snipe,  72-73,  86 ;  direc- 
tion of,  73. 

Flight  of  game-birds,  led  by  •  bay- 
snipe,  18  ;  order  of  flight,  18. 

Flight  of  plover,  153. 

Food,  which  birds  are  best  for,  93. 

Frank  Forester  on  plover,  112. 

French  gentleman's  beautiful  shot,  69. 

Fresh-water  ducks,  806. 

Frost-birds  and  frost-snipe,  92,  113, 
148, 157. 

Fute,  the,  176. 

Fuligula,  genus,  818 ;  valisnerla,  818 ; 
ferina,  319;  marila.  820;  clan- 
gula,  821;  albeola,  822;  glacialis. 


GadwaU,  808. 

Game,  definition  of  in  English  law, 
7;  protection  of,  l'\  14-15;  pur- 
chase of  at  unseasonable  times,  15 ; 


at  restaurants,  15 ;  legal  times  for 
killing,  17;  upland  game  disap- 
pearing, improper  pursuit  of,  20; 
bay-birds  not  killed  as  game  south 
of  Virginia,  95. 

Game-birds,  definition  of  term,  9,  278. 

Game-laws,  14. 

"  Gap,"  the,  260. 

Geese,  game-birds,  10 ;  description  of 
varieties,  803. 

Genus  strepsilas,  148 ;  totanus,  163; 
limosa,  168 ;  numenius,  173  ;  anser, 
803 ;  cygnus,  805 ;  anas,  806 ;  fuli- 
gula,  818 ;  Mergus,  324. 

German  guns,  80  ;  duck,  808. 

Ghost  stories  of  Jersey  coast,  120. 

Giraud  on  plover,  112. 

Godwit,  183,  168,  170  ;  great  marbled, 
163. 

Golden  plover,  77 ;  specific  character, 
143,  179  ;  at  Nepeague  Beach,  1»5. 

Golden-eye  duck,  821. 

Goose,  the,  303  ;  wild,  304 ;  Canada, 
804  ;  brant,  304 ;  barnacle,  8u4 ; 
brent,  804. 

Goosander  weaser,  325. 

Grass  plover,  152. 

Grassy  point. 

Greater  yellow-shanks,  165. 

Great  pond,  Long  Island,  137. 

Great-head  duck,  321. 

Green-head  duck,  806. 

Green- winged  teal,  814. 

Grey  duck,  306,  310. 

Grey  plover,  152. 

Grouse,  timefor  killing,  18. 

Guns,  good  and  inferior,  27;  first 
used  for  feathered  game,  7 ;  chang- 
ing, 28 ;  for  bay-birds,  87,  90  ; 
cheap,  dangerous,  28 ;  light,  neces- 
sary, 29  ;  difficulty  of  distinguishing 
between  good  and  bad,  80  ;  Ger- 
man, palmed  off  as  English,  30 ; 
importers  of.  practise  deceptions, 
30;  how  to  distinguish  good  from 
bad,  81 ;  how  to  select,  31 ;  how  to 
carry,  87,  2S6  ;  protect  and  clean, 
87,  88,  8'J ;  Manton's  theory,  82 ; 
breech,  shape  of,  82  ;  breech-load- 
ers, 32-37 ;  advantages  of,  42  ;  ob- 
jections to,  48-48 ;  superiority  of, 
33  ;  history  of,  83  ;  Lefaucheux, 
83  ;  Jeffries,  86  ;  English  preferred, 
87  ;  Dougall's  invention — the  lock- 
%st— 61 ;  the  dead-shot,  48,  58-59 ; 
makers  of  in  America,  63 ;  fired  too 
close  to  shooting  companion,  70 ; 
recoil  of  gun,  230;  load  for,  2S1  ; 
shot  for.  282 ;  rules  for  safety,  234. 

Habits  of  plover,  153-160. 


334: 


INDEX. 


Hackensack  rail-shooting,  201. 

Hawking  in  olden  time,  7. 

"  Henry,"  252  ;  his   advice,  252 ;   he 

shoots  with  the  author,  264. 
Horsefoot  snipe,  92,  182,  148. 
How  to  clean,  carry,  and  protect  the 

gun,  87,  88,  89. 
How  to  string  birds,  94. 
How  to  approach  plover,  155. 
Hudsonian  curlew,  178. 
Hunting  in  olden  time,  7. 
Hunting,  comparison  between  ancient 

and  modern,  8. 

Imported  guns  best,  68. 
Improper  pursuit  of  game,  20. 
Incubation  of  bay-birds,  73. 
India-rubber  stools,  88. 
Inferior  guns,  27. 
Inlet,  closing  of,  184. 
Interest  of  farmer  to  protect  game- 
birds,  10. 
Irishman's  duck-shooting,  255. 

Jack-curlew,  76,  178. 

Jacks,  138. 

Jack-snipe,  160. 

Jakey's  tavern,  102. 

Jeffries'  breech-loaders,  36. 

Jersey,  a  girl  from,  98. 

Jersey  coast  shooting,  106. 

Jersey  courts  and  damages,  180. 

Jersey,  bathing  in,  103. 

Jersey  coast,  a  day's  shooting  on, 
106 

Judgment  required  hi  bay-bird  shoot- 
ing, 70. 

Kentuckian's  bass-fishing,  261 ;  his 

wager,  263. 

Kildeer  plover,  113-146. 
Killing  song-birds,  13. 

'•      game-birds  out  of  season,  15. 
"      birds,  game-laws,  14. 
"      legal  times  for.  17,  13,  19. 
"      by    batteries,  21,  22,  25 ;    by 
pivot-guns,  28,    25;  by  sail-boats, 
24. 
Killing  snipe,   ducks,   and  rail,  gun 

for,  60. 
Krieker,  78,  131,  160. 

Lakes  at  the  West  increasing,  268. 

Lattimer  Marsh,  266.  • 

Laws,  game,  14,  15. 

Lefaucheux  gun,  83-64. 

Legal  times  for  killing,  17-18, 

"•  Lester's,"  180. 

Light  gun  necessary,  29. 


Limosa,  133  ;  fedoa,  168  ;  Hudsonica, 

168. 

Little  yellow-legs,  166. 
Long  Island,  South  Bay,  20. 
Long-legged  sandpiper,  157. 
Lockfast,  the,  61. 
Loading,  accidents  from,  42. 
Long-billed  curlew,  174. 
Long-tailed  duck,  323. 
Localities  for  bay -snipe,  94-97. 
Lucky  man's  duck-shooting,  240. 


Mallard,  806. 

Manton's  theory,  82. 

Marbled  godwit,  168. 

Martin,  76, 168,  170  ;  ring-tailed,  170. 

Match,  shooting,  in  England,  44. 

Meadow-snipe,  92,  160. 

Merganser,  324. 

Mergus,  324. 

Migration  of  birds,  order  of,  18 ; 
of  bay-birds,  94. 

Missfires  with  breech-loader  cartridge, 
56. 

Montauk,  sport  at,  188 ;  Point,  178. 

Mud-creek  bridge.  229. 

Muskrat  traps,  266. 

Musquitoes,  90,  101,  125,  135. 

Muzzle-loaders  and  breech-loaders,  27. 

Muzzle-loaders,  accidents  from,  42. 

"  and    breech-loaders, 

trial  between,  45  ;  discussion  about 
in  field,  48 ;  pigeon  match  be- 
tween, 44;  compared,  60. 

Names  of  bay-birds,  confusion  as  to, 
91 ;  varieties  of  names,  91 ;  scienti- 
fic names,  92 ;  species,  109 ;  of 
plovers,  "  Bills,"  remarks,  118. 

Needle-gun,  86. 

Nepeague  Beach,  180. 

New  York  snipe,  132. 

New  Jersey,  sport  in,  106;  a  girl 
from,  98 ;  adventure  in,  93  ;  bathing 
In,  103 ;  wreckers  in,  116 ;  pirates 
of,  117:  ghost  stories  about,  120; 
courts  and  damages,  130 ;  fight  for 
stands,  126. 

Numenlus,  183  ;  Hudsonicus,  178. 
"         Longirostris,  174. 
"         Borealis,  176. 

Number  of  birds  bagged  at  one  shot, 
70. 

Olden-time  hunting,  7. 

Old-squaw  duck,  323. 

Old-wife  duck  823. 

Ortley  family  in  Jersey  and  the  fight, 

126. 
Ox-eye,  162. 


INDEX. 


335 


Pectoral  sandpiper,  92-160. 

Peculiarities  of  bay-birds,  186. 

Pigeon-match  in  England,  44 

Pigeon-shooting  practice,  2^4. 

Pigeon-tail  duck,  310. 

Pintail  duck,  310. 

Potomac,  ducks  on,  20. 

Pivot-guns,  condemned,  23-25. 

Plover,  shooting,  directions  for,  188; 
a  game  bird,  10 ;  kinds  of,  109 ; 
discussion  about,  110,  111 ;  Frank 
Forester  and  Giraud  on,  112;  cha- 
radrius  helveticus,  112,  141 ;  plu- 
vialis,  112,  143 ;  black-bellied,  112, 
141 ;  bull-head,  112, 141 ;  ring-neck 
or  ring,  113;  semipalmatus,  113; 
Wilson's,  113 ;  piping  or  beach- 
bird,  118,  145;  melodius,  113; 
kildeer,  113,  146;  vociferus,  113, 
146 ;  "Bill's"  remarks  about  names 
of,  113 ;  specific  character  of  each 
species,  141  ;  black-breast,  141, 
156 ;  beetle-headed,  141 ;  American 
golden,  143,  1T9 ;  frost  bird,  143 ; 
hiaticula,  145;  sanderling,  147; 
rubidus,  147  ;  turnstone,  148 ;  ge- 
nus strepsilas,  148;  brant-bird, 
148 ;  strepsilas  interpret,  148;  horse- 
foot  snipe,  148  ;  beach-robins,  148 ; 
sandpiper,  150 ;  robin-snipe,  150 ; 
red-breasted  sandpiper,  150 ;  trin- 
ga  cinerea,  150  ;  tringa  rufa,  150 ; 
upland  plover,  152;  grey,  grass, 
or  field.  152, 179. 

Plover,  American  ring,  158. 

(See  bay-birds  and  bay -snipe.) 

Poachers,  15. 

Pond-lily  channel,  269. 

Punting  for  rail,  192. 

Quail,  a  game-bird,  10;    not  migra- 
tory, 10;  time  for  killing,  17-18. 
Quail  snipe,  1T1. 

Raccoon  Beach,  23. 

Rail,  a  game-bird,  10 ;  none  in  Eng- 
land, 58  ;  shooting,  190 ;  flight  of, 
191 ;  description  of  sport,  191,  202 ; 
in  boat,  192 ;  Delaware  sport,  194, 
197;  breech-loader  best  for,  192; 
charge  for,  195 ;  best  piaces  for 
rail-shooting,  199;  rail  In  Illinois, 
199 ;  varieties  of,  201 ;  short-billed 
and  long-billed,  201  ;  Hackensack 
shooting,  201 ;  eating  of,  203. 

Raft-duck,  820. 

Red-head  duck,  319. 

Red-backed  sandpiper,  156. 

Red-breasted  sandpiper,  150-111. 


!  Restaurants  having  game  out  of  sea- 
j      son,  15. 

'  Ring-plover  or  ring-neck,  113-158. 
;  Ring-tailed  martin,  170. 

Rivalry  in  bay-snipe  shooting,  70. 
j  Robberies  by  ducks  from  each  other, 
I      235. 
1  Robins,  service  of,  12. 

Robin-snipe,  7S-150. 

Rules  for  trap-shooting,  826. 

Sail-boat  used  to  pursue  ducks,  24. 
Sand-fleas,  135. 
Sander'ing,  147. 

Sandpiper,  138,  150 ;  Bartram's,  110, 
152  ;  pectoral,  92,  160  ;  red-breast- 
ed,  150;    red-backed,    156;    long- 
!      legged,  157;  Wilson's,  162. 
Scaup,  238,  320. 
Scientific  names  for  birds,  92. 
Scolopacidae,  132,  170 ;  noveboracen- 
sis.  182,  171;  flavlpes,  166;  fedoa, 
168. 

Seasons  for  bay-birds,  71. 
Sea-duck,  318. 
Semipalmated  taller,  164 
Shell-drake,  325. 

Shooting,    dress    for,    90;  .match   in 

I      England,  44 ;  on  Jersey  coast,  106  ; 

rail,  190 ;   from  boats,  192  ;   duck, 

i      216;    at    the  West,    220;    art   of, 

274;  trap,  rules  for,  326. 
Short-billed  curlew,  178. 
i  Short-neck,  92. 

i  Shot,  the  dead,  45,  58 ;  by  the  French 
gentleman,    69;    for    ducks,    238; 
what  is  a  good  one,  277 ;    cross, 
278 ;  aim,  279  ;  recoil,  280 ;  crack, 
274 ;     load,  281 ;    quickness,  283 ; 
practice,  283. 
i  Shoveller  duck,  317. 
Sickle-bills,  75,  188 
I  Sickle-billed  curlew,  174 
i  Sir  Francis  Francis,  277. 
i  Sneak-box,  114 

:  Snipe,  a  game  -  bird,  10 ;  time  for 
killing,  17;  when  it  stools,  183; 
migration  of,  18 ;  time  for  bay- 
snipe,  19 ;  batteries,  20  ;  no  bay- 
snipe  in  England,  58;  killed  by 
breech-loaders,  60;  English  snipe, 
114,  138;  shooting  bay-shipe,  66, 
103;  what  are  so-called,  66;  win- 
ter-snipe, 156 ;  peep,  156  ;  blind, 
157 ;  frost,  157 ;  meadow,  160  ; 
jack,  160 ;  quail,  171  ;  snipe,  170. 

(See  bay-snipe.) 
South-southerly  duck,  328. 
Spoonbill  duck,  817. 
Spirit  duck,  322. 


336 


INDEX. 


Sprig-tail  duck,  310. 

Sport,  misapplication  of  term,  271, 
272 ;  when  in  perfection,  19  ;  spoil- 
ed by  batteries,  20;  by  watering- 
places,  9G;  at  South  and  West,  22, 
220 ;  at  Barnegat  Bay,  22  ;  at  Ne- 
peague  Beach,  180. 

Sporting,  defence  of,  273. 

Sportsmen,  term  misapplied,  18,  271 ; 
protect  birds,  14 ;  club  in  the 
West,  219  ;  shooting  there,  220  ; 
suggestions  to,  271 ;  art  of  shoot- 
ing, 274;  shot,  275. 

Squan  Beach,  97. 

Stands,  79  ;  fight  for,  106. 

Stools,  79-80 ;  India-rubber,  83  ;  dead 
birds,  82;  wooden,  81. 

Stories  of  Jersey  pirates,  ghosts,  and 
wreckers,  119;  of  the  lucky  man's 
duck-shooting.  240  ;  of  the  unlucky 
man's  trout-fishing,  245. 

"  Stratton's,"  187. 

Strepsilas,  genus,  148 ;  interpres,  132, 
14S. 

Swallows  serviceable,  12. 

Summer-duck,  812. 

Swan,  805  ;  White,  806 :  American, 
806. 

Table  of  shots  with  breech-loaders, 
45,  46. 

Tatler,  166;  semipalmated,  164 ;  tell- 
tale, 165. 

Tell-tale  tatler,  165. 

The  beach,  New  Jersey,  101. 

The  "  dead  shot,"  48. 

The  Englishman's  woodcock-shoot- 
ing, 126. 

The  fight  for  stands,  126. 

"  The  Field,"  48. 

The  French  gentleman's  shot,  69. 

The  Jersey  girls,  98. 

The  "  lockfast,"  61. 

Times  for  killing  birds,  17, 18, 19. 

Totanus,  133.  163 ;  semipalmatus, 
164;  vociferus,  165;  flavipes,  166. 

"  Trading."  104. 

Traits  of  bay-birds,  103. 

Trap-shooting,  288;  where  pursued, 
2S8;  obtaining  pigeons  for,  289, 
291 ;  assistants  for,  291 ;  skill  in, 
291 ;  tame  and  wild  pigeons  com- 
pared, 232 ;  how  to  keep  pigeons 
for,  293;  varieties  of  traps,  294, 
299;  retrieving  of  birds  In  this 
sport,  295;  missfires,  206;  guns 
and  load  for,  296-298  ;  number  of 
birds  which  may  be  killed  in  suc- 
cession, 207;  English  rules,  298; 
ties,  293 ;  New  York  State  Conven- 


tion of  1865,  299 ;  plunge  and 
spring  traps,  299  ;  decay  of  trap- 
shooting,  300 ;  rules  for,  326. 

Trial  of  breech-loaders  in  England,  48. 

Tringae,  1*3;  Bartramia,  110,  152; 
hiaticula,  158  ;  cinerea,  150  ;  rufa, 
150;  alpina,  156,  himantopus,  157  ; 
pectoralis,  160 ;  semipalmata,  162  ; 
pusilla,  162. 

Turkey,  9. 

Turnstone,  132, 148. 

Unlucky  man's  trout-fishing,  245. 
Upland  game  disappearing^  19. 
Upland  plover,  152. 
Use  of  song-birds,  12. 

Varieties  of  bay-birds,  74;  discus- 
sion as  to,  109. 

Varieties  of  names  of  bay-birds,  91, 
109. 

Virginia  rail,  201. 

Wager  about  duck-shooting,  263. 

Water-fowl,  time  to  kill,  18. 

Watering-place,  spoils  sport,  96. 

Welsh  drake,  808. 

West,  the  sportmen's  club  there, 
219 ;  adventure  in,  221. 

Western  sport,  22. 

Willet-shooting,  114. 

Willet,  164. 

Winter-snipe.  156. 

Wilson's  plover,  118. 

Wilson's  sandpiper,  162. 

Wild  rice  of  tho  West,  224. 

Wild  celery  stolen  from  canvas-backs 
by  widgeons,  235. 

Wild-fowl  shooting,  205 ;  in  batteries, 
205 ;  at  the  West  and  South,  206 ; 
dogs  for,  207:  localities  for,  218; 
how  to  shoot.  215.  / 

Whist' ing  for  birds,  88. 

Whistler  duck,  821. 

White  swan,  306. 

Widgeon,  319. 

Wild  duck,  306. 

Woodcock,  European,  8;  a  game- 
bird.  10  ;  time  to  kill,  17  ;  shoot- 
ing by  the  Englishman,  126. 

Wood-duck,  312. 

Wooden  stools,  81. 

Worms,  depredations  of.  11. 

Wreckers  of  Jersey  coast,  116. 

Yellow-legs,  77,  166;  big,  165;  little, 

166. 

Yellow-shanks,  greater,  165. 
Yellow-tatler,  166. 
Yelper,  T7, 165. 


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